Actos Bladder Cancer Lawsuit Trial Draws to Close

Cooper, a former Pacific Bell cable splicer, took the drug as prescribed by his physician for two years and in November 2011 was diagnosed with bladder cancer. Arguments made by the attorney for the plaintiff state that the manufacturer, Takeda, was aware of the link between Actos and bladder cancer as far back as 2004, but failed to notify the public until seven years later. The attorney representing Takeda argued that the plaintiff was a high risk for bladder cancer due to age and a prior history of being a smoker.

Takeda Facing Thousands of Actos Lawsuits

Takeda is currently facing more than 3,000 Actos lawsuits filed by users who claim the drug caused serious side effects. More than 1,200 of these claims are being consolidated for pretrial proceedings before a federal judge in Louisiana, with the first trial set to begin in January 2014.

Actos is a drug used to treat type-2 diabetes. Some of the side effects linked to Actos use include blood in the urine, frequent urination, bladder cancer and congestive heart failure. While the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not issued an Actos recall, both France and Germany have removed Actos from their market. The FDA said that the benefits of the drug outweigh the risks associated with its use.

Plaintiff’s Poor Condition Led to Expedited Trial

Cooper’s Actos bladder cancer lawsuit was expedited on the trial calendar because of his serious health condition. Closing arguments made by his attorney accuse Takeda of putting the patients’ health behind their profits, in that Takeda hid the possibility for developing bladder cancer for seven years.

These findings were discovered through executive emails which disclosed that colleagues were urged to speak with the FDA and persuade them that new warning labels were not needed for Actos regarding the risk for bladder cancer.

Attorneys representing the manufacturer argued back that the company fully disclosed to the public the risks involved with Actos, including information regarding cancerous bladder tumors. With the jury still deciding the outcome of this trial, many more previous users are gearing up for their day in court against Takeda.  

Take Legal Action

If you have developed bladder cancer or bladder tumors, or you know someone who has after taking Actos, you might be eligible to participate in an Actos injury lawsuit or wrongful death lawsuit. More information can be found on our Actos Bladder Cancer Class Action Lawsuit Investigation page. Here you can also submit your information for a free legal review to determine if you have a case to seek compensation for your injuries.