Reports to the FDA have revealed that Tasigna leukemia treatment may be linked to serious cardiovascular and circulatory problems.

Tasigna (nilotinib) is one of the most popular drugs used to treat chronic myeloid leukemia, but may patients and medical professionals worry that the drug could do more harm than good.

Even when Tasigna leukemia treatment was approved by the FDA in 2007, it was required to be accompanied by a black box warning, the most serious level of FDA warnings, because of concerns over the fact at it could cause serious side effects.

Those side effects did not include the serious cardiovascular and circulatory issues that patients are now claiming are linked to Tasigna leukemia treatment. Allegedly, patients and doctors in the United States initially were not warned that the drug could cause cardiovascular and circulatory issues, but over a dozen studies world wide have linked Tasigna to atherosclerosis.

Tasigna Leukemia Treatment and Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is a condition in which the arteries (the main blood vessels that carry oxygenated blood from the heart to the rest of the body) clog, narrow, and harden. Atherosclerosis is caused when plaque builds up inside of the arteries. This condition is serious because it can restrict blood flow to portions of the body, leading to cardiovascular problems, limb amputation, and even death.

There is much concern that Tasigna is linked to the development of atherosclerosis, which in turn, can cause a range of cardiovascular and circulatory problems.

One of the conditions that often results from atherosclerosis is peripheral arterial disease (PAD). It most commonly affects the legs, but can include cramping, pain, or fatigue in the muscles of the legs or hips. In most cases, this condition worsens with physical activity and improves with rest.

If you or a loved one took Tasigna leukemia treatment and experienced any of the following side effects, you may qualify for a lawsuit:

• Amputation
• Atherosclerosis
• Circulatory issues of the legs, arms, heart or brain
• Coronary artery disease
• Embolic occlusion
• Heart attack
• Infection
• Peripheral arterial disease
• Stroke
• Death

Tasigna Leukemia Lawsuit Investigation

Many patients claim that the drug’s manufacture, Novartis, knew that Tasigna leukemia treatment could cause serious cardiovascular and circulatory problems, and intentionally concealed this information so they could continue to sell the drug and profit from it.

Now, lawyers are investigating the possibility of a Tasigna leukemia lawsuit to hold Novartis accountable for patient injury.

In 2011, the first study was published that linked Tasigna with atherosclerosis. This study showed that 25 percent of patients who used Tasigna leukemia treatment had vascular problems and 16 percent developed peripheral arterial disease in connection with their use of the drug. Nine more studies were published in 2013 that supported the claims.

In 2013, the FDA conducted a post-market review of Tasigna, and stated that their research strongly suggested an “association between nilotinib (Tasigna) and PAOD (peripheral arterial occlusive disease).”

Allegedly, Novartis did add an atherosclerosis warning to the drug’s label until the FDA announced its concerns. Based on this timeline, many patients argued that Novartis knew of the dangers of the drug well before the FDA announced its findings, and knowingly endangered patients’ health by continuing to market Tasigna.