The cancer drug Tasigna, is a popular treatment that has been approved to treat adults with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Tasigna chemotherapy, however, has also been connected with arterial disease and atherosclerosis.

The Tasigna chemotherapy drug was approved in 2007 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is manufactured by Novartis for the treatment of adults with CML. It is generically known as nilotinib and brought in over $1.7 billion in sales in 2016.

Tasigna chemotherapy treats CML or chronic myeloid leukemia. CML is a type of cancer that begins in the bone marrow. It causes the cells that make red blood cells, the myeloid cells, to undergo a genetic change.

It comprises about 10 percent of all leukemia cases and invades the blood through the formation of blood cells. CML is generally considered a slow growing cancer, but at times it can develop into an acute leukemia.

Even though Tasigna chemotherapy was developed to replace another chemotherapy drug that came with cardiac side effects, it seems as if Tasigna may cause similar problems in patients.

Tasigna chemotherapy has been connected with the development of athersclerosis, or a narrowing and hardening of the arteries. This condition can lead to peripheral artery disease. It seems as if Tasigna causes a swelling of the arteries. This restricts blood flow to the extremities and to the brain. This can lead to many problems including some that may be fatal.

In 2011, a study was published in the American Journal of Hematology about Tasigna chemotherapy. This study looked at 24 patients who took underwent Tasigna chemotherapy to treat their chronic myeloid leukemia.

Three of these patients in this Tasigna chemotherapy study developed peripheral artery disease and other disorders of the vascular system.

A 2012 study in Blood, a peer-reviewed medical journal published by the American Society of Hematology, reported that four of 27 Tasigna chemotherapy patients were diagnosed with peripheral artery disease. One of these patients even suffered a heart attack.

Because of these and other studies, patients and the medical community have begun wondering if Tasigna chemotherapy treatment is actually safe.

In 2016, the first Tasigna chemotherapy lawsuit was filed by the family of a man who died in 2014 shortly after beginning Tasigna chemotherapy treatment. He died from complications of atherosclerosis.

Many other lawsuits have been filed by patients or their family members after finding out that certain complications came as a result of taking Tasigna. In fact, one man filed a complaint recently that alleges his quick development of atherosclerosis was due to his switch to Tasigna from another chronic myeloid leukemia chemotherapy drug.

Atherosclerosis and peripheral artery disease are not the only complications associated with Tasigna chemotherapy. Other severe Tasigna chemotherapy complications include coronary artery disease, circulatory issues of the legs, arms, heart or brain, embolic occlusion, heart attack, stroke, infection, amputation and even death.

If you or someone you love has experienced any of these complications while or after taking Tasigna, you may benefit from speaking with an experienced attorney.