Two Couples Join Actos Bladder Cancer MDL

By TopClassActions | November 14, 2013

Category: Pharmaceuticals

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Two Couples Join Actos Bladder Cancer MDL

By Jessica Tyner

Actos is a drug designed to help regulate the blood sugar levels in patients with type-2 diabetes, but it can come with significant side effects. Takeda Pharmaceuticals LLC, the maker of the drug, is facing an onslaught of Actos lawsuits after more and more victims have come forward with stories about how they were allegedly hurt by the drug.

On Sept. 20, 2013, two Ohio couples — David and Mary Shaw along with Frank and Margaret Johnson — were the latest to file an Actos lawsuit alleging the diabetes drug caused the husbands to develop bladder cancer.

According to their Actos lawsuit, David and Frank were “injured as a result of the use of Actos, and therefore seek damages for pain and suffering, ascertainable economic losses, attorney’s fees, reimbursement of costs according to Actos, reimbursement for all past, present and future health and medical costs” and any other compensation a jury may see fit.

After taking Actos, both men were reportedly diagnosed with bladder cancer, and fortunately both of them have (thus far) survived the diagnosis. However, others aren’t so lucky. All forms of cancer require early and proper diagnosis and treatment in order to ensure the best survival rates. For those who don’t have medical insurance or are wary of seeing doctors, they might wait until it’s too late and end up with a terminal diagnosis.

“As a result of the defective nature of Actos … persons who were prescribed and ingested the drug have suffered and continued to suffer bladder cancer,” reads the couples’ Actos lawsuit. They claim that the company “concealed and continue to conceal their knowledge of Actos’ unreasonably dangerous risks from Plaintiffs, their physicians, other consumers and the medical community. Specifically, Defendants failed to adequately inform consumers and the prescribing medical community about the risks of bladder cancer associated with Actos ingestion.”

Had the couples known about the real risks of Actos side effects such as bladder cancer, they say they would have opted for another drug.

History of Actos

Actos became available on the American in 1999 in cooperation with Eli Lilly, one of the largest drug companies in the country. Type-2 diabetes is one of the fastest spreading diseases in the United States, so it’s no surprise that a diabetes drug would be very lucrative. Blindness and amputations are most commonly caused by diabetes, and failure to treat diabetes can be a death sentence.

However, these couples claim they were never told of the risks of Actos bladder cancer — not by their physicians, the packaging or warning inserts. Like patients, doctors look to warning labels to make the best decisions for their patients. If a company fails to supply adequate warnings, they’re operating blindly. The couples claim that the company knew about the Actos side effects but chose not to inform the public because the drug was profitable.

The Ohio couples are suing for fraudulent concealment, strict liability, negligence, manufacturing defect, defective design, inadequate warning, breach of warranty, violation of consumer protection laws, punitive damages, redhibition, and loss of consortium. Even though they have joined Actos multidistrict litigation (MDL), each couple maintains the right to their own trial by jury.

The Actos lawsuit is David Shaw, et al. v. Takeda Pharmaceuticals LLC, et al., Case No. 6:13-cv-02710, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana.

Did You Use Actos?

Were you prescribed Actos and then diagnosed with bladder cancer? If this happened to you, you might have an Actos legal claim and deserve compensation for your pain, suffering and medical expenses. Find out more today by visiting the Actos Bladder Cancer Class Action Lawsuit Investigation. Once you submit your story, a lawyer will review your case and be in touch if you qualify for a free Actos claim review.

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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