Actos Maker Hit with Wrongful Death Lawsuit
By Christina Drury
Those who suffer from Type 2 Diabetes rely on their medications to stabilize their glucose levels and ensure that their body functions remain normally. When the medication fails to do its job, however, the person’s quality of life can decline. This is the alleged complaint of a Wisconsin woman who filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Takeda Pharmaceuticals America. Her husband – who suffered from Type 2 Diabetes – started taking Actos in 2004. By 2009, he had developed bladder cancer and, as a result, passed away in October of 2010. His wife is alleging in the Actos lawsuit that his injuries are a direct result of taking Actos and she is suing for fraud along with loss of consortium. Actos Side Effects
Actos was originally approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1999 for treatment for Type 2 Diabetes. It is classified as a thiazolidinedione type (TZD) drug. However, not long after its foray into the drug market, numerous Actos side effects began to surface. These side effects include cardiomyopathy, which not only weakens the muscles of heart but also affects circulation, and an increased risk of bladder cancer in those who take the medication for over a year. Studies show 40% of Actos users may develop bladder cancer if they take it over a year.
Takeda allegedly knew of these inherent risks but released the medication into the market anyway. It wasn’t until 2007 that a warning for cardiomyopathy was added onto the warning label for Actos. Patients or doctors were not warned about the increased risk of Actos bladder cancer either until the summer of 2012 — 13 years after the drug’s release.
Published Studies Reveal Actos Side Effects
Not only have patients claimed they developed bladder cancer as a result of taking Actos, but numerous studies have been published acknowledging the link. In August 2012, the Journal of the National Cancer Institute issued their findings in a study that Actos, along with other drugs with the TZD classification, could cause an increased risk of bladder cancer if they were taken long-term.
The Canadian Medical Association Journal was another publication that released a study showing that 22% of Actos patients were at an increased risk of developing bladder cancer. The British Medical Journal previously published a study stating that the use of Actos doubled the risk of developing bladder cancer if taken for two years.
Seeking Legal Help
If you or anyone you know has taken Actos and been harmed by its side effects, you may be eligible for compensation. There are numerous pending Actos lawsuits, and qualified attorneys who are actively investigating the claims that have been put forth by patients and their loved ones.
To get more information on how you can get help, visit our Actos Bladder Cancer Class Action Lawsuit Investigation page. Here you can learn about the various side effects of Actos and also submit your information to attorneys who are currently handling the Actos lawsuits and their various claims. Potential compensation may include pain and suffering, loss of consortium, wrongful death, fraud and breach of implied and express warranty.
Updated January 14th, 2013
All medical device, dangerous drug and medical class action and lawsuit news updates are listed in the Drug and Medical Device section of Top Class Actions.
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