Product Liability & Defective Drugs: A Lethal Combination

Originally published by Misha.

Japanese-based drug manufacturer Takeda Pharmaceutical Company had to pay a huge price due to cancer causing properties in it’s drug called Actos. The Actos lawsuit became a prime example of a product liability and defective drug case. With more than 8000 cases filed against Takeda, this case had one of the biggest product liability settlements in the pharmaceutical industry. Actos is a prescription drug, given to patients with type 2 diabetes. In 2011, health authorities in countries like Germany and France pulled the drug from pharmacies and FDA issued safety warnings saying that the use of the drug for more than one year could lead to increased risk of bladder cancer; this was 12 years after the drug went on the market in the US. More than 9000 bladder cancer claims rushed in in the years after and cost Takeda billions of dollars (in settlements, damages and legal fees).

Although Actos is still prescribed in the US for type 2 diabetes, healthcare providers are strongly advised to inform patients of the potential risk of bladder cancer. A French Medicines Agency’s three-year study found a slight increase in bladder cancer risk in patients taking pioglitazone, the active ingredient found in Actos.  Another study published by The British Medical Journal in 2012 confirmed the increased risk of bladder cancer associated with consuming pioglitazone in patients of type 2 diabetes. Takeda and FDA have not endorsed the results of these studies but the manufacturer is conducting its own ten-year observational study in California with more than 190,000 patients to confirm if the drug is actually linked to increased risk of bladder cancer.

Actos is known to have side effects other than bladder cancer, these include:

• Abnormal heart conditions (including heart failure)
• Swelling or fluid retention in the ankles or legs
• Shortness of breath
• Unusually fast increase in weight
• Blood in urine
• Diabetic eye disease
• Fractures

For millions of Americans with diabetes, a defective or dangerous drug can lead to lethal consequences, never ending healthcare bills and loss of income. The Actos lawsuit against Takeda was settled in 2015 however, if you feel that you or a loved have been adversely affected by Actos you should contact a product liability and defective/dangerous drug attorney in McKinney to evaluate your case. Wormington and Bollinger specializes in dealing with product liability and dangerous drug cases. We are therefore experienced and committed to helping patients throughout Texas file lawsuits and get them the compensation they deserve. To learn more about your legal options against the manufacturer of Actos, please contact Wormington & Bollinger today.

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