Lawsuits Likely as Diabetes Drug Actos is linked to Bladder Cancer

A commonly used drug used to treat diabetes may carry an increased risk of bladder cancer, sparking a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warning.

Concerns over patients taking pioglitazone (Actos) for more than 12 months, were raised in an article in the MedPage Today.

The warning came just days after two European countries banned use of the drug, although the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has yet to release any guidance on use of Actos.

As experienced Virginia (VA) dangerous drugs attorneys, we believe there is likely to be a spate of lawsuits coming forward over the side effects of this drug.

So far about a dozen lawsuits have been filed over Actos in federal district courts; however, a motion has been filed asking that all federal Actos bladder cancer lawsuits are filed before one judge, raising the prospect of many more claims coming forward.

This motion was filed on Aug. 31 by plaintiffs Glen and Nina Weant, who requested the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation to consolidate all federal Actos lawsuits in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois. The cases would be heard Judge G. Patrick Murphy, AboutLawsuit.com reported.

Data compiled over the last five years shows that although there’s no overall increased risk of bladder cancer, patients with the longest exposure to the drug who were subjected to the highest cumulative doses were at greater risk, the agency said.

In other words, as long ago as 2006, concerns were emerging about the connection between Actos and bladder cancer. But only now are these concerns surfacing and leading to official warnings.

We have reported on a number of drugs in recent months that have terrible and even life threatening side effects.

Earlier this month I noted how a controversial drug being used to treat eye cancers and other ocular diseases has now been linked to blindness in at least five patients.

In cases of dangerous drugs and improper medication our Virginia, VA, attorneys are ready to help victims such as the 61-year-old who was in good health until his pharmacist gave him an improper dose of a blood thinner. In this case, our client received a $200,000 mediated settlement for the misadministration of pharmaceuticals.

DM

About the Editors: The Shapiro, Cooper, Lewis & Appleton personal injury law firm, which has offices in Virginia (VA) and North Carolina (NC), edits the injury law blogs Virginia Beach Injuryboard, Norfolk Injuryboard and Northeast North Carolina Injuryboard as pro bono services.