December 23, 2019 - With more and more injuries resulting from the gout medication Uloric, it is likely Uloric lawsuits will begin stacking up fairly quickly. While there are currently no Uloric lawsuits on file, there are a number of Uloric lawsuits which could potentially be filed against Takeda regarding its failure to warn the public of the drug’s dangers. These Uloric lawsuits could be filed within the calendar year.
FDA Black Box Uloric Warning - In February 2019, the FDA issued a Black Box Warning regarding Uloric which noted a clinical trial concluded that Uloric might not just be responsible for an increase in cardiovascular deaths—but in deaths from all causes. Uloric is manufactured by Takeda for a type of arthritis known as gout which occurs when uric acid builds up in the body, causing joint inflammation, redness and extreme pain. The pain is a result of the crystals which form in the joints as the uric acid builds up.
Uloric Racks Up Nearly $2 Billion in Sales for Takeda Between 2012 and 2017 - Uloric was approved by the FDA and placed on the market in 2009—since the last gout medication on the market was nearly four decades ago, Uloric quickly became one of the number one prescriptions in the United States, reportedly bringing in about $1.9 billion in sales for Takeda between 2012 and 2017.
FDA Requires Takeda to Perform Post-Market Clinical Trials - As a caveat to the approval, the FDA required Takeda to perform post-market safety clinical trials with 6,000 patients. Out of every 1,000 patients in the trial, 26 died, compared to another gout drug, Allopurinol, where 22 users died for every 1,000 in the trial. The bottom line regarding the clinical trial done by Takeda appears to be that not only are those taking Uloric more likely to die from a cardiovascular event, they are more likely to die from any cause.
Serious Side Effects of Uloric - Some of the serious side effects for those taking Uloric include:
- Cardiac death;
- Liver failure;
- Heart attack;
- Kidney failure;
- Inadequate blood supply to the heart;
- Non-fatal stroke;
- Non-fatal heart attack;
- Abnormalities in liver enzymes;
- Extremity numbness, and
- Myocardial infarction.
What are the Allegations Regarding Uloric? Those who have suffered injury after taking Uloric may be entitled to file a Uloric lawsuit which could help victims obtain monetary compensation for medical expenses, lost wages and pain and suffering. The primary elements which may be alleged in Uloric lawsuits include:
- Uloric was defectively manufactured;
- Uloric was defectively designed;
- Uloric was improperly marketed;
- Takeda was negligent in the manufacture, design or marketing of Uloric, or
- Takeda knew of the dangers associated with Uloric yet failed to warn consumers.
Whistleblower Uloric Lawsuits - A former Takeda Pharmaceuticals safety consultant filed a whistleblower lawsuit against the company, claiming it knew of the risks associated with Uloric, yet failed to inform the public. It was also alleged that Takeda was aware Uloric could be fatal when combined with certain prescription drugs and that Takeda actually took steps to conceal those dangers from consumers. While the whistleblower Uloric lawsuit was eventually dismissed, it certainly raised ethical questions about Uloric and its manufacturer.
Getting Help for Your Uloric Lawsuit - If you have suffered injuries as a result of taking Uloric, you could benefit from speaking to an experienced Uloric attorney. The Uloric lawsuits could be filed quickly once more of those injured by the drug come forward. Takeda’s failure to warn could result in a number of lawsuits being filed against the company within the year.