Actos Drug May Increase Risk of Bladder Cancer

Actos (pioglitazaone) has recently been associated with the risk of bladder cancer, according to the FDA. On August 4, 2011, the FDA approved updated drug labels for the pioglitazone-containing medicines to include safety information that continued use of this medication for more than one year can be associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer.

The updated drug labels now include the following information:

· Not to use pioglitazone in patients with active baldder cancer; and

· Use pioglizaone with caution in patients with a prior history of bladder cancer.

These updated drug labels also recommend that patients should:

· “Contact their healthcare professional if they experience any sign of blood in the urine or a red color in the urine or other symptoms such as new or worsening urinary urgency or pain on urination since starting pioglitazone, as these may be due to bladder cancer.”

Actos has also been linked to heart failure risk and other serious side affects. Despite these risks, Actos has become the number one diabetes pill after Avandia. Takeda Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd. is the manufacturer of Actos.

Currently, Nancy Rios, 54 years old, is suing Takeda, alleging that her recurrent bladder cancer is a direct result of using Actos. She has taken Actos for more than a decade. Rios lives in Penslyvania and is worried about being able to pay for her medical bills and missing additional time from work. She said, “I could lose my bladder and possibly need chemo.”

The FDA analyzed a study from the first five years of a ten year Actos safety study completed by Takedo in 2002. They concluded that the risk of bladder cancer was 40 percent higher for patients taking Actos for at least a year.

If you or a loved one has suffered a serious injury caused by a related Actos side effect, our experienced attorneys will be glad to speak with you about your legal options.