Sunday, January 27, 2013

The Link between the Diabetic Drug Actos and Bladder Cancer

The Potential Adverse Effects of Actos
Actos is a drug frequently prescribed for those with Type 2 diabetes. Takeda, a Japanese pharmaceutical company, began manufacturing Actos in 1999. The closest competitor to Actos, Avandia, suffered significantly several years ago when FDA drug safety reviewers estimated that Avandia could have been responsible for more than 100,000 heart attacks and deaths since its approval. Although the European Medicines Agency issued a recall for Avandia, the FDA has allowed Avandia to remain on the market, although under firm restrictions. After the Avandia issues, Actos effectively cornered the market for a Type 2 diabetes drug, with Takeda bringing in some $3.4 billion dollars for Actos in 2011 alone.
At one point the FDA was conducting a clinical trial comparing the health risks of Avandia to Actos, however they subsequently halted enrollment in the trials after some claimed that knowingly exposing human test subjects to potentially dangerous drugs was unethical. As far as Actos goes, recent studies have shown that patients taking the drug in higher dosages or for any period of time longer than a year could be at a 40% higher risk of developing bladder cancers. Negative cardiovascular events such as heart attack and heart failure are also a potential risk with Actos as are macular edema, liver problems, bone loss and a litany of less serious—but nonetheless troubling—side effects.

Are You the Victim of ‘Actos’ Bladder Cancer?

With risks as high as 40%, it is likely that many Actos users will develop bladder cancer. Recovery chances for bladder cancer depend largely on what stage the bladder cancer has reached once discovered as well as the overall health and age of the patient. Surgical treatment as well as chemotherapy and radiation are common treatments and there is as much as a 40-50% recurrence rate. Any patient who takes Actos should let their doctor know immediately if they have any symptoms such as blood in the urine, pain in the lower back or abdomen, frequent urination or pain upon urination. Some less serious—but nonetheless troubling—side effects of Actos include weight gain and fluid retention, chronic headaches, shortness of breath and chest pains, muscle aches and pains such as experienced during the flu, fever, chills, fatigue, low blood sugar, allergic reactions, sore throat and a general unwell feeling.

How an Actos Lawyer Can Help if You Have ‘Pioglitazone’ Bladder Cancer

The risk of bladder cancer in Actos patients has been known for a significant length of time; at least thirty cases of bladder cancer among those taking Actos were reported between 2004 and 2009, while a study which followed 190,000 diabetic patients enrolled in the Kaiser Permanente Northern California health plan showed that patients taking higher dosages of Actos for longer than twelve months were at a significant risk for developing bladder cancer. In 2010, Actos ranked among the ten best-selling drugs in the United States.
Prior to the release of Actos, animal studies were done which showed a direct correlation between Actos and the formation of tumors, yet Takeda released the drug to the public. The pharmaceutical company did take the initiative to conduct a study regarding the safety of Actos; halfway through the trial, it was clear that those taking the drug for longer periods of time or in higher dosages had a much higher risk of bladder cancer. It is estimated that as many as 10,000 Actos users will be filing lawsuits out of the millions of people who have taken the drug throughout the past twelve years. The trauma of developing a bladder cancer or heart failure after taking a drug believed to be safe is significant, and those who believe Actos caused adverse health effects have the right to bring a lawsuit against the manufacturer of Actos.

Author: Sullo & Sullo Attorneys

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