Actos Sales More Important to Drug Marker Than Patients, Witness Claims
By Andrea Gressman
As one Actos lawsuit after another has been filed it is a breath of fresh air for plaintiffs to see the first case to go to trial. However, the information being obtained from this first trial may be disturbing to plaintiffs dealing with bladder cancer allegedly caused by the diabetes drug. A key witness claims that Takeda Pharmaceuticals, the manufacturer of Actos, put the all-mighty dollar above patient safety.
In the trial internal Takeda emails from the year 2005 were presented as evidence. In these emails company officials discussed whether or not the United States or Europe would require Takeda to include the side effect risk of developing bladder cancer on the Actos warning label. It was then made clear that the Takeda executives had a greater desire to protect the reputation of the drug as opposed to making sure the patients using Actos were kept safe. This key deposition was presented by Howard Green, who happens to be a clinical pharmacologist and is providing expert testimony on the plaintiff’s behalf in this first Actos lawsuit trail.
Mr. Green went on to reference “multiple e-mails” sent directly from Takeda management that indicated getting Actos on the market “came first” above protecting its users.
It is deeply concerning to many following the Actos litigation as the emails seem to demonstrate a complete disregard for patient safety. It is unfortunate to think how many lives could have been saved if there was action taken to protect Actos patients just dating back to these 2005 emails.
One particular email was cited and is particularly disturbing. Takeda executive, Kiyoshi Kitazawa, was quoted by Bloomberg in one of these emails as saying, “Actos is the most important product for Takeda and therefore we need to manage this issue very carefully and successfully not to cause any damage for this product globally,” in reference to its side effect link to causing bladder cancer.
The plaintiff in this Actos lawsuit, Jack Cooper, has made the claim that Actos caused him to develop bladder cancer. He is now seeking an award from the jury to compensate him for his side effect injuries.
Actos received its approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1999. It quickly soared to the top when it came to diabetes treatment options and its number of sales. This was not just in the United Stated either. It was considered to be the best-selling drug to treat diabetes around the world.
However, in 2011 both Germany and France banned sales of Actos in their countries after studies started emerging revealing the substantial side effect risk of developing bladder cancer. Another major Actos side effect also included heart problems. However, Actos has not been recalled in the United States and, as a result, there are thousands of people who are at a continued risk for developing bladder cancer due the use of Actos.
If you have been diagnosed with bladder cancer and also used Actos it is important for you to consult an Actos injury lawyer. Visit the Actos Bladder Cancer Class Action Lawsuit Investigation page to provide your information and receive a free consultation from a qualified Actos lawsuit attorney.
Updated March 22nd, 2013
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