A California man who claims that he developed bladder cancer side effects from Actos has been awarded $6.5 million by a jury, which found that Actos maker Takeda Pharmaceuticals failed to adequately warn consumers about the possible side effects of the widely used diabetes drug. The verdict came after more than two months of trial in the Superior Court of California for Los Angeles, involving a complaint filed by Jack Cooper. Cooper’s Actos bladder cancer case was the first of more than 3,000 similar lawsuits filed throughout the country to reach a jury, and the jury decided in favor of Cooper. If you took Actos as a diabetes treatment and you have since suffered bladder cancer or another serious side effect, consult our reputable attorneys at AMA Law to discuss your possible compensation options.
ACTOS AND POTENTIAL BLADDER CANCER SIDE EFFECTS
Cooper, a former cable splicer for Pacific Bell, was diagnosed with bladder cancer in November 2011, after having used Actos for more than two years. Cooper’s prognosis indicated that he only had a few months to live, which resulted in an expedited trial date in California state court. Jury selection for the Actos case began on February 19, and the jury finally returned a verdict in Cooper’s case on April 26, indicating that Takeda Pharmaceuticals should be held liable for Cooper’s bladder cancer complications. The jury determined that Takeda failed to provide Cooper and his doctors sufficient warnings regarding the potential for Actos to cause bladder cancer side effects.
TAKEDA ACCUSED OF CONCEALING ACTOS BLADDER CANCER INFORMATION
Actos, also known generically as pioglitazone, is a once-daily pill initially approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in July 1999, as a treatment for type 2 diabetes. The medication functions by increasing the body’s sensitivity to insulin, but warnings added to the Actos label in 2011 indicate that diabetes patients may face an increased risk of bladder cancer after using Actos for more than one year. In light of this risk, thousands of Actos lawsuits have been filed in state and federal courts in recent years, alleging that Takeda Pharmaceuticals intentionally concealed information about the risk of cancer from Actos use, and failed to adequately warn consumers and the medical community about these potentially life-threatening side effects.
CONTACT OUR ATTORNEYS TO FILE A CLAIM
According to evidence introduced during Cooper’s trial, Takeda appears to have been aware of the potential for Actos to cause bladder cancer before the diabetes drug was even introduced in the United States, and even considered adding a warning to the drug label in 2003. Instead, Takeda allegedly chose to ignore data, downplay the bladder cancer risk and mislead drug regulators in an attempt to avoid placing a warning on the drug label, which it was finally forced to do in 2011. If you have been diagnosed with bladder cancer or another life-changing medical condition, and you believe a pharmaceutical drug like Actos to be the cause, contact our qualified lawyers at AMA Law for legal help. You may have grounds to file a drug injury lawsuit against Takeda Pharmaceuticals, in order to pursue financial compensation for your injuries, medical expenses, and pain and suffering.