Los Angeles Actos Attorney

Ellis Law has represented persons who took the prescription drug pioglitazone, sold under the brand name Actos, and developed bladder cancer. Physicians prescribe Actos to treat patients with Type 2 Diabetes. We are also investigating cases for patients prescribed Actos who developed prostate cancer. Japan-based Takeda Pharmaceutical Company, Ltd. is the manufacturer of Actos.

In the first trial of an Actos lawsuit brought by a patient who developed terminal bladder cancer after taking Actos, a California jury awarded $6.5 million to Jack Cooper and his wife. After more than a week of deliberations, the Los Angeles Superior Court panel returned verdicts on April 25, 2013, and found that Takeda failed to adequately disclose Actos’ link to bladder cancer.

Actos Bladder Cancer Link and Pioglitazone Side Effects

In June 2011, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a drug safety alert warning that the use of Actos for more than one year may be associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer. At the same time, health authorities in France suspended the use of Actos due to the risk of developing bladder cancer.

In April 2012, Health Canada, the government drug safety agency for Canada, issued a safety warning on Actos. Diabetes patients prescribed Actos for over a year had two times higher risk of bladder cancer than diabetes patients not taking Actos.

Manufacturers of prescription drugs have a duty to patients to produce safe products and to warn patients and their doctors of any adverse health effects. The lawsuits filed by Actos patients with cancer charge that Takeda violated both of these duties and, as a result, that Takeda is legally responsible for the harm they have suffered and must pay damages.

The Actos complaints charge that prior to the drug’s introduction to the market in 1999, Takeda possessed studies on laboratory animals showing an increased risk of bladder cancer when the animals were provided the drug. Takeda allegedly failed to disclose these laboratory test results to health regulators.

Upon approval of Actos in 1999, the FDA directed Takeda to undertake a post-marketing study on the safety and effectiveness of Actos. However, Takeda allegedly delayed initiating the study until 2003 and designed the study as a 10-year trial. Because of this study design, the final results will not be available until after the expiration of Takeda’s exclusive patent on Actos. However, interim results published in 2011 did show increased risk of bladder cancer.

In 2005, the results of another study Takeda conducted on Actos were published. This study was intended to show cardiovascular benefits from taking Actos. This study found 14 bladder cancers among patients in the Actos group, compared to 5 bladder cancers in the group that did not take Actos. Takeda again denied that Actos was to blame for the higher rate of cancer.

To this day, the warning label on Actos states: “There are too few events of bladder cancer to establish causality.”

Actos Lawsuits: Legal Rights of Patients Injured by Actos

Persons who have been seriously injured by a prescription drug with dangerous and undisclosed side effects may bring claims against the pharmaceutical company that manufactured the drug. The claims that may be brought can include claims for strict liability for a defective product, breach of warranty, negligence, and misrepresentation. Damages may include:

• Physical pain and suffering, mental anguish and physical impairment;
• Medical expenses associated with efforts to remedy the injuries as a result of the original surgery; and
• Loss of earnings and/or earning capacity.

In the case of a patient’s death, the family of the victim may file a wrongful death action and seek damages.

Contact ELLIS LAW

If you or a loved one have developed bladder cancer, prostate cancer, or another serious disease while taking Actos, or are a relative of a patient who died after being prescribed Actos, please contact an Actos lawyer at ELLIS LAW. We have successfully represented tens of thousands of clients in personal injury and dangerous prescription drugs cases across America.

Or you may call us toll-free at 310-641-3335 and ask to speak to attorney. We will confidentially evaluate your case for free and without any obligation.

Trademark Notice

Actos is a registered trademark of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company, Ltd. The use of this trademark is solely for product identification and informational purposes. Takeda Pharmaceutical Company, Ltd. is not affiliated with this website, and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company, Ltd. has no affiliation with Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP. Nothing on this site has been authorized or approved by Takeda Pharmaceutical Company, Ltd.