Ky. Man Blames Actos for Father’s Wrongful Death

Kentucky plaintiff Marshall North is suing Takeda Pharmaceuticals for the wrongful death of his father, Claybourne North. Marshall alleges that in direct result of taking their type-2 diabetes treatment drug Actos, Claybourne developed bladder cancer, which resulted in his death.

Claybourne had been prescribed Actos to help manage the symptoms of his type-2 diabetes. After taking the medication for a little more than a year, he developed bladder cancer. He died from bladder cancer complications on July 13, 2013. The plaintiff and his family did not learn about the heavy association Actos had with bladder cancer until after Claybourne’s death.

In the Actos lawsuit, Marshall argues that Takeda should have made a collaborative effort to inform his father, mother and their physicians about this possible occurrence because they were relying on the information given to them by the company. There were no reportedly no warnings or indications on the drug’s label to hint of this possibility, and their physician had not been made aware of any recent studies pertaining to this matter. Had the decedent known about this possibility, he allegedly never would have taken Actos.

Overview of Actos Complications

Actos was approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) in July 1999 as a type-2 diabetes treatment drug. It was first released into the United States on April 20, 2006. It is part of a class of insulin-sensitizing diabetes agents known as thiazolidinediones (TZDs). Because it only has a chemical effect in the presence of insulin, Actos does not work with type-1 diabetes. Actos is normally prescribed as an alternative treatment medication when others have not been shown to work. Scientists have become fairly hesitant about prescribing this drug because of the notorious Actos side effect — bladder cancer.

Many studies have found that after just one year of using Actos, patients develop an aggressive form of bladder cancer that could be potentially fatal. After Actos was approved, Takeda received more than 180 cancer reports on average per year, but the company reportedly never included any of these injury reports on the drug’s label. 

Due to the nature and consequences of these alleged injuries, Marshall’s case has been grouped into multidistrict litigation. He will join other plaintiffs who have suffered similar injuries and losses. He is currently seeking compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and punitive damages.   

This Actos bladder cancer lawsuit is Marshall North v. Takeda Pharmaceuticals America, et al., Case No. 6:13-cv-02980, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana. 

File an Actos Lawsuit Today

If you believe that you or a loved one have been the victim of Actos bladder cancer development, you have legal options. Please visit the Actos Bladder Cancer Class Action Lawsuit Investigation. There, you can submit your claim for a free legal review and if it qualifies for legal action, a seasoned Actos lawyer will contact you for a free, no-obligation consultation. You will be guided through the litigation process at no out-of-pocket expenses or hidden fees. The bladder cancer attorneys working this investigation do not get paid until you do.