Popular Diabetes Drug Linked to Bladder Cancer Cases
By Amanda Antell
Actos is a prescription drug used to treat type-2 diabetes; it is used to improve glucose control in adults over the age of 18. Actos has also been used to treat fatty liver, and has been found to reduce the risk of development from pre-diabetes to type-2 diabetes.
Actos was the tenth best-selling drug in the U.S. in 2008, with sales exceeding $2.4 billion. However, Actos has reportedly been found to be in connection with bladder tumors and developing bladder cancer, causing it to be withdrawn from the market in other countries such as France and Germany.
Takeda Pharmaceuticals, Actos’ manufacturer, is currently being sued by thousands of people for negligence and withholding vital drug safety information.
Diabetes patients who developed bladder cancer while taking Actos have filed lawsuits against Takeda, charging the company with failure to warn physicians and patients of the cancer risks of Actos. Prior to the drug’s introduction to the market in 1999, Takeda allegedly had done clinical studies on laboratory animals that had been put on Actos, and the subjects had shown an increased risk of developing bladder cancer.
Not only did Takeda allegedly fail to disclose these laboratory test results to health regulators, but various plaintiffs also bring the charge of negligence against Takeda. Even though Takeda had done animal studies with their drug, they had never done clinical trials on humans, even following its introduction to the market in 1999. Instead of warning prescribing physicians and patients the potential risks, Takeda marketed and sold Actos without adequately warning that the drug could possibly cause bladder cancer.
Takeda continues to sell this potentially dangerous drug to type-2 diabetics in most countries throughout the world despite all the Actos lawsuits it’s facing, potentially putting all of them at risk for bladder cancer.
For most bladder cancer patients, the symptoms are nearly nonexistent or easily ignored. However, for any subtle signs that may help, especially if you are taking Actos, here’s what to look for:
- Back pain
- Trouble urinating
- Hematuria (blood in the urine). In most cases, however, the blood in the urine is sporadic and undetectable to the naked eye.
This is not a complete list of Actos side effects; call your doctor if you are experiencing any abnormalities after taking Actos. Because the signs of Actos bladder cancer are so subtle, many patients disregard the problems until the cancer is too far advanced to treat. So every sign counts — talk to your doctor immediately.
If you or a loved one believes that you have been injured by Actos in any of the ways described above, or in some other way, please visit the Actos Bladder Cancer Class Action Lawsuit Investigation. Submit your claim, and if you qualify for legal action, and Actos injury attorney will get in touch with you immediately. An experienced lawyer in Actos claims will work with you and guide you through the litigation process at no out-of-pocket expense, or hidden fees. These Actos lawyers do not get paid until you do.
Updated April 25th, 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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3 thoughts onPopular Diabetes Drug Linked to Bladder Cancer Cases
I do not think I took Actos, but I did take other oral diabetes drugs. Then my Dr switched me to insulin, I currenently take Lantus Solar Star. I have had bladder cancer for over a year and have had four surgeries, could you let me know if there are other drugs that may have caused this, thank you
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