September 10, 2013 — Bloomberg reports that Takeda Pharmaceuticals, the manufacturer of Actos (pioglitazone), is facing allegations of failing to warn about the risk of bladder cancer and putting profits above public safety. These allegations emerged this week, during the second Actos lawsuit to go before a jury.
Lawyers represent the family of plaintiff Diep An, a former U.S. Army translator and Vietnamese immigrant who started taking Actos in 2007 to treat type-2 diabetes. In September 2011, An was diagnosed with bladder cancer. He died in January 2012.
Stuart Simms, the lawyer for An’s family, said:
“The bladder cancer that caused Diep An’s death can be linked directly to his use of Actos.”
Actos Bladder Cancer Safety Concerns
Lawyers allege that Takeda had evidence linking Actos and bladder cancer as early as 2005. They didn’t warn about the risk of bladder cancer for another six years. By March 2011, sales of Actos topped $4.5 billion, making up 27% of Takeda’s total revenue, according to Bloomberg estimates.
Actos sales plummeted in 2011, shortly after regulators in France and Germany restricted the drug on bladder cancer concerns. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reviewed data and also found a potential risk of cancer, but did not recall the drug in the U.S.
Judge Vacates $6.5 Million Award in First Actos Lawsuit
Takeda is now facing a growing litigation involving more than 3,000 lawsuits, including about 1,200 in federal court in Louisiana. The first Actos bladder cancer lawsuit went to trial earlier this year in California. The plaintiffs, Jack and Nancy Cooper, were awarded $6.5 million. A judge vacated the jury’s decision in May, and lawyers for the Coopers are appealing the decision.
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The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting diabetes medication induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been injured by bladder cancer after taking Actos, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Defective Drug Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
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