Actos

October 6, 2016

Actos and a Link to Pancreatic Cancer

Despite many studies showing that the diabetes drug Actos is linked to an increased risk of developing bladder cancer, those in the industry are still trying to prove that is not true. The results of a recent large-scale study are now suggesting there is not a significant risk of bladder cancer for patients who take Actos.

First, it should be noted that there does appear to be some increase in the number of patients who have taken Actos as compared to diabetics who have not taken Actos. While researchers like to discuss whether things are significant or statistically significant, to any single patient who develops bladder cancer as a result of taking Actos, we can be fairly certain that it is very significant to that patient. Continue reading

April 29, 2016

Researchers: Actos Linked to Bladder Cancer

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Actos is a medication used to treat patients with type II diabetes by keeping their blood glucose levels down. The medication is a member of a class of drugs, but only Actos seems to be linked to an increased risk for developing bladder cancer according to a recent news feature form UPI. There is another drug in the same class of medications known as Avandia (brand name for rosigilatazone), but that drug, while chemically similar, does not appear to cause any increased risk of bladder cancer, as is the case with Actos. While it is normally an entire class of medications that has the common trait which causes a disease or other adverse health event, it is not unheard of for the problem to be drug specific, as is the case with Actos.

An example of an entire class of drugs that has been shown to cause serious health consequences is known as New Oral Anticoagulants (NOACs) like Eliquis, Xarelto, Savaysa, and Pradaxa. Continue reading

August 18, 2015

Cooper v. Takeda Pharmaceuticals: Actos Litigation

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

In Cooper v. Takeda Pharmaceuticals, an appeal from the Court of Appeal for the State of California, Second Appellate District, a husband and wife filed a lawsuit against Takeda Pharmaceuticals in which they alleged defendant’s Actos drug was responsible for husband’s bladder cancer, with which he was diagnosed in 2011.

Takeda manufactures pioglitazone, which is the generic name for Actos, a drug used to treat and control Type 2 diabetes. The drug was first on the market following approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration, and husband took the medicine from 2006 until his diagnosis with bladder cancer in 2011. Continue reading

July 22, 2014

Actos Manufacturer Looks to Make More Money Despite Ongoing Products Liability Litigation

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Despite ongoing litigation surrounding the diabetes drug Actos, the Japanese drug manufacturer, Takeda Pharmaceutical Co Ltd, seems to be pushing ahead with sales and conducting studies to find new markets for its medication.

According to a recent article from Reuters, a German study shows Actos may delay the onset of Alzheimer’s related dementia. Though this is an early study, and the drug is not expected to gain approval to treat dementia in the next five years, there has been no mention of whether Actos has the same issues concerning bladder cancers as it does when given to diabetes patients.

Our Boston Actos injury lawyer notes in the case of Allen et al. v. Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. et al., the plaintiff was awarded $1.5 billion in actual damages and another $9 billion in punitive damages. Takeda is to be responsible for $6 billion of the punitive award and Eli Lilly, which marketed the drug, would be responsible for the remaining $3 billion.
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July 5, 2014

Actos Litigation Ongoing as Massachusetts Insurer Files lawsuit

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

In the wake of a $9 billion verdict against Japanese drugmaker Takeda Pharmaceuticals, the manufacturer of diabetes drug Actos, which has been causally connected to instances of bladder cancer, the number of lawsuits filed against the firm continues.

Boston Actos injury attorneys recognize that in reality, that $9 billion will almost certainly be reduced, at least to some degree. ($1.5 million of the award was for actual damages; $3 billion in damages fell on the shoulders of the company’s marketing firm.) However, the Louisiana jury’s April verdict in the first bellwether case of a multi-district litigation has sent a strong statement, to which other victims are closely listening.

One recent example involves a series of 10 lawsuits filed by Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Massachusetts. In the case of In Re: Actos (Pioglitazone) Products Liability Litigation, the insurer is seeking to recoup damages it incurred after Takeda purportedly failed to warn consumers about the potential risk of bladder cancer associated with its popular diabetes drug, formally referred to as Pioglitazone. The insurer alleges Takeda knew or should have known the risks its product held with regard to bladder cancer. The insurer further alleges the company negligently or fraudulently concealed this link, failing to warn consumers of the danger. In turn, the insurer says it was forced to pay for costs relating to the cancers that developed – a far higher expense than the maintenance of the underlying Type II diabetes.
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June 7, 2014

Takeda Sanctioned for Misconduct in Actos Litigation

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Takeda Pharmaceuticals is facing pending legal action in a multidistrict litigation because the company’s drug, Actos, significantly increases the risk of patients developing bladder cancer. Plaintiffs have been successful in past cases in taking legal action against the pharmaceutical company, with one jury awarding $9 million in damages. However, some plaintiffs harmed by Actos have been having difficulties building their cases because Takeda Pharmaceuticals has been engaged in behavior designed to prevent them from getting documents and information they need.

In a product liability case or any personal injury action, defendants have to turn over certain evidence during the discovery period. If they fail to provide information as required, the attorneys for the plaintiffs can make a motion to the judge and the judge may sanction the defendant. Victims should speak with a defective drug lawyer for help taking legal action, understanding their rights during discovery, and asking the court for sanctions when a defendant does not comply with rules of civil litigation.
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February 22, 2014

Actos Bladder Cancer Bellwether Trial Begins

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

A federal jury is preparing to hear a bellwether case regarding the alleged cancer-causing diabetes drug Actos, manufactured by Asia’s largest drugmaker, Takeda Pharmaceuticals.

The plaintiff in Terrence Allen et ux. v. Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America Inc. et al alleges damages in excess of $75,000 after he says he developed bladder cancer because of his use of the drug for treatment of Type II diabetes. The drug was approved by the FDA for U.S. sales in 1999, but the plaintiff alleges the drugmaker knew then that the drug, with a brand name of Pioglitazone, caused bladder cancer. This risks, it is alleged, were downplayed to federal regulators and actively concealed from doctors and patients.

The trial, one of the first of some 3,000 cases pending across the country, is taking place in the U.S. District Court, Western District of Louisiana (Lafayette). Other plaintiffs are watching closely, as the outcome here could affect those in thousands of other cases. As our Boston Actos bladder cancer attorneys understand it, the trial, expected to span about six weeks, has gotten off to a rough start for the defense.
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