Research suggests that Uloric heart related deaths occur more often in patients on the gout drug than in patients taking other similar gout medications. This increased risk of cardiac death may entitle patients to legal compensation.

According to a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) safety alert, Uloric heart related deaths have been reported in patients taking the Takeda gout drug. Initial results in a safety trial revealed that patients taking Uloric were at in increased risk of cardiac complications including heart attack, stroke, and cardiac ischemia.

Gout is a type of arthritis which involves a buildup of uric acid in the joints. Uric acid naturally occurs in the body as a biproduct of cellular processes and is usually processed out of the body through the kidneys. However, gout patients do not effectively process uric acid through the kidneys, so it can build up in the joints.

When uric acid builds up in the joint, it can form sharp crystals which result in tissue irritation and inflammation. Symptoms commonly reported with gout include intense joint pain, lingering discomfort, inflammation, redness, and limited range of motion.

Treating Gout

Many individuals can treat their gout symptoms with lifestyle changes, but some choose to treat their condition with medication such as Uloric. Uloric (febuxostat) is a gout medication developed by Takeda Pharmaceuticals which reduces the amount of uric acid in the blood.

The drug was advertised as a safe alternative to allopurinol, a popular gout drug associated with kidney problems and allergic reactions. However, despite hopes that Uloric would be a safer alternative to allopurinol, an FDA mandated safety trial reportedly showed that Uloric heart related deaths are more common than cardiac deaths in patients taking allopurinol.

In November 2017, the FDA released the preliminary results of a safety trial, mandated by the regulatory agency following reports of Uloric heart related death in clinical trials. The safety trial reviewed data from 6,000 patients with gout who were treating the condition with either Uloric or allopurinol.

According to the FDA’s safety alert, initial results of the trial showed that the population of Uloric patients were more prone to “a combination of heart-related death, non-deadly heart attack, non-deadly stroke, and a condition of inadequate blood supply to the heart requiring urgent surgery.”

The FDA’s alert intended to inform patients and physicians of the potential risk for Uloric heart related death. Healthcare professionals are encouraged to consider the data when prescribing or continuing to prescribe Uloric to patients. Consumers who are taking Uloric to treat gout are encouraged to not stop taking Uloric and to consult with their doctor before making any changes to their medications.

Following the news of Uloric heart related deaths numerous consumers have implemented legal tactics to hold Takeda accountable. Consumers who have filed lawsuits against the pharmaceutical company often argue that they were not sufficiently warned about the risks of Uloric heart related deaths, meaning they could not make an informed decision about their healthcare treatment.

If you or a loved one experienced cardiac ischemia, heart attack, stroke, or an otherwise cardiac-related death, you may qualify to take legal action against Takeda. A Uloric heart related deaths lawsuit could help recover compensation for medical expenses, wrongful death, pain and suffering, and more.