Feb. 15, 2013 What happens when a medication does more harm than good? This is the question being asked thousands of patients who have developed bladder cancer after taking the Type II Diabetes drug, Actos®. Actos was introduced to the market almost a decade ago to be used in lowering high blood sugar levels in diabetics. However, reports began to emerge shortly after the drug’s release that patients were developing bladder cancer. Several studies were conducted to examine the matter and confirmed the elevated risk of the disease when using the medication. The British Medical Journal released a study finding that those taking Actos faced double the risk of developing bladder cancer after taking the medication more than two years. Similar results were published in the New England Journal of Medicine as well. These finding prompted the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to add new warnings to the drug’s packaging cautioning consumers about the risks involved with taking Actos. However, the medication has not been taken off the market. Federal Courts will hear testimony from patients affected by the drug in a hearing against the product’s manufacturer, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, scheduled for Nov. 2014. The Personal Injury Lawyers with William Mattar Law Offices focus their practice on motor vehicle accidents, but have a network of local attorneys who may be able to help through the firm’s Legal Network if Actos® Bladder Cancer has affected you.
Diabetes Drug, Actos®, Linked to Increased Risk of Bladder Cancer