Boston Actos Bladder Cancer Attorneys
Actos Bladder Cancer Lawsuits
Pharmaceutical companies develop and distribute drugs that are meant to alleviate a medical condition and/or its symptoms. This is, unfortunately, not always the case. At the Kiley Law Group, our experienced pharmaceutical litigation attorneys have seen the harm unsafe drugs can cause, most recently, with the diabetes drug, Actos and its connection to an increased risk of bladder cancer. If you are an Actos-user, and have been diagnosed with bladder cancer, the experienced Massachusetts Actos lawsuit attorneys with the Kiley Law Group can help you understand your legal rights and options.
What is Actos?
Actos, or pioglitazone, is manufactured by the Takeda pharmaceutical company as a medication that, along with diet and exercise, is used to regulate blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. According to the American Diabetes Association, millions of Americans have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, and of these, 2.3 million have been prescribed Actos and other pioglitazone-containing medications. This may end up doing more harm than good, however, as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has released a safety announcement warning the public of the link between long-term use of Actos and an increased risk of bladder cancer. The manufacturer’s failure to warn physicians and patients of this risk may be cause for legal recourse.
FDA Conducts a 10-Year Epidemiological Study
After the diabetes drug Avandia was investigated for its connection to heart problems, the public turned to Actos as the new type 2 diabetes drug, however there were soon concerns over its potential risks. To determine whether Actos has any unidentified link to an increased risk of bladder cancer, the FDA started a 10-year study of Actos.
FDA Safety Announcements
September 2010
In September 2010, a few years after the 10-year study began, the FDA released a safety announcement stating that it was reviewing data from the continuing study. Takeda Pharmaceuticals also performed a 5-year analysis of the study and presented the results to the FDA. Overall, it was determined that there is “no statistically significant association between Actos exposure and bladder cancer risk.”
Further analyses on the connection between bladder cancer risk and a patient’s length of use and dosage were conducted and it was observed that patients with the longest exposure and/or with the highest cumulative doses to Actos experienced a greater risk of bladder cancer. Nothing was conclusive as of yet, however, and no official warnings were given.
June 2011
The FDA released another safety announcement in June 2011, this time officially warning the public that using Actos for more than one year may increase the risk of bladder cancer. This warning was not included on the drug’s warning label but has now been added to the label of all pioglitazone-containing medications. The FDA will be continuing to evaluate study data but also recommends that healthcare professionals should:
- Refrain from prescribing Actos or other pioglitazone medications to patients with active bladder cancer; and
- Only use pioglitazone medications cautiously for patients with a history of bladder cancer.
Pharmaceutical Company Liability Issues
Pharmaceutical companies are required to adequately test the safety of their drugs, identify any risks, and warn of these risks on the drug warning label. Not warning patients or physicians of these risks may potentially cause serious illness, injury, or even death. If Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd. did not properly test Actos, or even knew of the potential risks but did not warn the public, then it may be held responsible for any illness caused by the drug.
How We Can Help
Pharmaceutical litigation can be a very complicated process. In order to hold the at-fault party responsible and obtain the compensation you deserve, you need a personal injury attorney with years of experience in pharmaceutical litigation and a successful track record of obtaining substantial results. With The Million Dollar Man, Tom Kiley, on your side, your financial future is protected.
If you have been diagnosed with bladder cancer and are an Actos-user, the dedicated Actos bladder cancer lawyers at the Kiley Law Group can help. We have helped individuals and families pursue compensation from negligent parties for the past 30 years. Getting you the financial and emotional support you need is our top priority. Contact us today for a FREE legal consultation and to learn more about your legal rights at (888) 208-1695.
