Actos Trials Begin in Los Angeles Alleging Bladder Cancer Injuries

In Los Angeles, Asian pharmaceutical maker, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, has been on trial.  The first Actos trials have begun of over 3,000 lawsuits filed alleging the popular drug gave consumers bladder cancer. In these lawsuits, consumers are alleging Actos caused them bladder cancer injuries.  

According to court filings, Takeda Pharmaceuticals may have known about the potential for bladder cancer injury.  In court filings, Takeda Pharmaceuticals allegedly polled doctors in 2003 to determine whether they would prescribe the drug to patients with a bladder cancer warning on the box.

According to litigators, “a bladder cancer warning would destroy the sales of Takeda’s most important drug."  As the trial continues, litigators will try to prove that Takeda Pharmaceuticals knew about the potential for bladder cancer injury and still marketed a potentially dangerous drug to consumers.  As of 2011, Actos was responsible for approximately $4.5 billion in sales for Takeda Pharmaceuticals. If litigators are successful, their lawsuits alleging Actos produced bladder cancer injuries could be quite costly to the manufacturer. 

Actos Dangers for Consumer Injury

In February 2012, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a consumer warning that Actos could be responsible for as much as a 40% increase in danger for bladder cancer injury.  Consumers have made thousands of complaints to the FDA prior to this warning, alleging the following Actos injuries:

• heart problems
• stroke, cardiac arrest
• bladder cancer
• kidney failure
• fertility impairment

The Actos trials will be focusing on one alleged consumer injury- bladder cancer.  As the trials progress, they will help to determine the ability for other injured consumers to recover for bladder cancer injuries.  If you or your loved one has suffered a bladder cancer injury after taking Actos, you should call a skilled product liability and personal injury attorney.  A skilled product liability attorney can help you to determine whether you may be able to obtain compensation for your bladder cancer injuries.

Consumers with Type 2 Diabetes May Be at Risk Taking Actos Medication

Recently, the former Surgeon General of the United States declared that there is a silent killer among us, obesity.  Since 1980, the Surgeon General's office claims adult weights have more than doubled and children's weights have tripled.  This troubling risk factor is thought to be behind a huge explosion in Type 2 diabetes in America.

Type 2 diabetes used to be referred to as adult onset diabetes until children began exhibiting these signs due to growing obesity problems.  It is now more frequently referred to as lifestyle diabetes.  This growing concern has exploded across America, affecting huge groups of the population, but particularly affecting groups of African Americans, Pacific Islanders, and Latinos.  As a result, Americans have been exhibiting increased injuries allegedly due to treatments of this disease. 

The Risk of Type 2 Diabetes

When a person exhibits symptoms of type 2 diabetes, it is the body signalling that it is not producing enough insulin or that the body has become resistant to insulin.  Insulin is used by the body to use glucose as energy.  When a person eats and cannot use the sugars in foods for energy, they start to exhibit troubling symptoms and complications which can worsen over time.

Complications and health problems often associated with Type 2 diabetes include the following:

• cataracts
• neuropathy, numbness of the feet
• skin infections
• hypertension, high blood pressure
• heart disease
• hearing loss
• depression
• loss of circulation, which can necessitate amputation

The Risk of Type 2 Diabetes Treatment

Often, unless a patient is willing to make significant lifestyle changes, they are forced to take what can be risky medications.  One  such medication is Actos, which has come under fire from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).  The FDA has declared patients who take Actos could be at an additional 40% increase in risk of bladder cancer.  This warning was based on thousands of reports from consumers who claimed that as a result of taking Actos, they became injured and developed bladder cancer.  

Actos was initially marketed as a safer alternative to Avandia, which has previously been linked to rising reports of heart attacks and other heart problems.  However, despite being marketed as a safer alternative, thousands of Americans began to report injuries to their doctors and the FDA.  As a result, these patients have begun to file lawsuits, which are now under multidistrict litigation.  To date, over 1,000 patients have filed suit alleging taking Actos injured them and gave them bladder cancer.

If you have been injured as the result of taking your Type 2 diabetes medication, Actos, you could possibly be entitled to compensation for your injuries.  You should speak to a skilled product liability attorney to determine whether or not you have a case.  Protect your health and speak with a product liability attorney so you can ensure you get the help you need.

American Academy of Pediatrics Introduces New Type 2 Diabetes Guidelines for Children to Prevent Injury

As the obesity epidemic in this country continues to rise, so too does the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes in children.  For the first time, the American Academy of Pediatrics has issued guidelines to doctors for treating this preventable disease. The hope is that in following these guidelines, doctors can avoid the need for escalating treatment, such as putting children on adult medications, some of which have been linked to serious injury

American Academy of Pediatrics Guidelines for Treating Children with Type 2 Diabetes

For the first time, doctors have received a road map for treating children who have developed Type 2 diabetes in the hopes of preventing further injury.  Since children have been a large part of the growing obesity epidemic, it has been difficult to determine if their detected diabetes is indeed Type 2.  Following a test of the islet antibodies, doctors are recommended to follow this course of treatment in children:

• prescribe lifestyle choices like exercise and better food choices
• monitor hemoglobin A1c  levels to determine if further changes are needed
• self monitoring of blood glucose levels
• increased nutrition counseling to educate children on their lifestyle choices
• encourage children to exercise outside and play at least 60 minutes per day

These are considered moderate treatment options for Type 2 diabetes.  Should children not respond to doctors' treatment, there is a very real chance that they could suffer further injury as the result of their Type 2 diabetes requiring escalation of treatment. 

The Dangers of Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes can be very dangerous to children.  If left untreated, or if children do not adhere to recommended treatments, they could suffer serious injury and experience the following complications:

• glaucoma, cataracts
• numbness in the feet
• heart disease
• hearing loss
• high blood pressure
• diabetic coma
• amputation
• nerve damage
• stroke
• death

More Rigorous Treatments that Can Be Dangerous

When more rigorous treatment is called for, often doctors prescribe pills.  One such common pill is Actos, prescribed to Type 2 diabetes patients. Actos can be dangerous to patients because the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has warned it has been linked to reports of both bladder cancer and congestive heart failure.  There is currently ongoing litigation on behalf of clients who claim they developed bladder cancer as a result of taking Actos.

If your child has Type 2 diabetes, it is important to get them the help they need before treatment needs to be escalated to prevent further injury.  If you've been injured by your Type 2 diabetes medication, you should consult a skilled product liability attorney to protect your rights.

Consumers File Lawsuits Alleging Actos is Dangerous

As obesity rates rise in America, so too do health problems such as diabetes.  Type 2 diabetes, once very rarely seen in America, is now a common problem, and one in which we have a variety of medications to treat. One such treatment is Actos (pioglitazone) which is manufactured by Takeda Pharmaceuticals and distributed in America by Eli Lilly.

Approximately 20% of the diabetes medication today is Actos (pioglitazone.)  As one of the most commonly prescribed medications, this drug has earned Takeda Pharmaceuticals over $5 billion in sales per year.  However, it has also been linked to some severe problems over the years.

The Alleged Dangers of Actos 

Since its introduction to the market in 1999, some researchers have been wary. Over the years, many reports have emerged that paint a grim picture of the drug.  Study after study has linked Actos (pioglitazone) to the following:

• bladder cancer
• heart failure 
• liver failure
• and even bone fractures.  

Studies such as Kaiser Permanente's 2008 decade long meta study concluded that taking Actos for a year or longer increased the risk of bladder cancer among patients.  This damning study was no isolated report, though.  Similar studies have emerged to allegedly confirm these suspicions such as France's Medicines Agency's 2006 to 2009 study, leading to their classification that this drug was dangerous. 

After enough of these reports have emerged, and enough consumers complained about allegedly unusual side effects, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) stepped in to issue a safety alert in June 2001 claiming there is as much as a 40% chance that taking Actos (pioglitazone) for a year or longer is related to developing bladder cancer.

Actos Litigation

To date, over 1,000 patients across America have lawyered up and filed lawsuits against Takeda Pharmaceuticals, alleging the manufacturer knew or should have known that this drug would cause bladder cancer.  These patients are claiming that their bladder cancer is a direct result of taking their prescribed Actos medication. 

If you have taken Actos and have similarly developed bladder cancer, you may be entitled to compensation for your Actos injury.  Call an experienced product liability attorney today to discuss your rights. 

Actos Litigation Status Hearing Looming

Actos litigation is well underway.  Tomorrow, December 13, 2012, marks the next status hearing regarding the multi-district litigation case, In re: Actos (Pioglitazone) Products Liability Litigation - MDL No. 2299.  As the Actos litigation heats up, patients are still coming forward with claims that they developed bladder cancer, potentially after taking their prescription medication, Actos.

What are the Actos lawsuits about?

The Actos litigation centers on patient claims that the manufacturer, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, and other defendants concealed information that taking Actos could cause bladder cancer.  Patients allege that they were not adequately warned about the potential for bladder cancer, and have become ill as a result. 

Actos was originally intended to be the answer to Avandia, a predecessor which was often linked to heart problems.  Yet if this information is true, both of these type 2 diabetes drugs sound like they were bad choices.  They were intended to control the body's sensitivity to insulin that happens with type 2 diabetes' insulin resistance.  Doctors usually prescribed this drug in conjunction with dietary changes and regular exercise.  Yet, scientific studies have emerged which strongly suggest that Actos is linked to bladder cancer.  And the FDA released a health warning that taking Actos for a year or longer could cause a 40% increase in risk for bladder cancer. 

Have you been injured by Actos?

Patients across the United States have filed suit against Takeda Pharmaceuticals and other defendants, claiming Actos caused bladder cancer.  If you have similarly developed bladder cancer which you suspect may be due to your usage of Actos, you may want to discuss your legal options with a skilled product liability attorney.  You may be entitled to compensation for these injuries.  Don't mess with your health.  Obtain the relief you need.  

Patients Still Suffer Diabetes Injury on World Diabetes Day

Today is World Diabetes Day.  On the day of Frederick Banting's birthday, who famously teamed with Charles Best in the 1922 discovery of insulin, we recognize the contributions this discovery has made to the quality of individuals' lives overall.

Before the discovery of insulin, diabetes was a death sentence.  This could mean a slow death, amputation, vision impairment, and a severe reduction in your quality of life.  The discovery of insulin meant these ailments could be prevented and people could live longer.

And yet, diabetes has doubled across the world, mostly due to new type 2 or lifestyle diabetes.  World wide, 366 million people suffer from diabetes, and that number is expected to reach 438 million by 2030.  As cases continue to grow, the need for research is becoming clearer. 

Diabetes Treatment Today

Today, diabetes treatment is varied, ranging between insulin injections to medication and inslet cell transplants in extreme cases.  Type 1 diabetes patients, or those who were born with the condition, enjoy long lives well into their 70's with this disease.  As long as patients monitor their blood glucose and stick to the guidelines their doctors set forth, people can generally extend their lives and live a quality life. Because these patients don't produce insulin, the addition of insulin to their system is critical for a long life.

Type 2 diabetes patients, or those suffering from lifestyle diabetes, have very different options.  In these patients, the body doesn't make enough insulin or their body is resistent to the insulin produced.  To alleviate these symptoms, patients are often prescribed medication and dietary changes.

When Diabetes Treatments Injur Patients Instead

The most popular diabetes 2 treatment has been medication, and specifically the medication Actos has been the leading medication to control blood sugar levels.  As a thiazolidinedione, Actos works by increasing the body's sensitivity to insulin.

However, thousands of Americans have suffered severe consequences as a result of taking Actos.  This includes:

• Bladder cancer
• Heart failure
• Liver failure
• Macular edema
• Bone fractures

A 2008 Kaiser Permanente 10 year meta- study concluded that patients who took Actos for a year or longer were 40% more likely to develop bladder cancer. 

In June 2011, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) agreed with the Kasier Permanente study and announced that patients taking Actos were 40% more likely to develop bladder cancer.

As a result, thousands of patients have suffered and to date, well over a thousand have also filed suit against the drug's manufacturer, Takeda Pharmaceuticals.

If you or your loved one has suffered the devastating effects of bladder cancer or other severe consequences of taking Actos, you are encouraged to talk to a skilled product liability attorney to protect your rights. You may be eligible for compensation as a result of your injuries.

National Diabetes Month is November- Get Tested and Get Treated

November is Diabetes Awareness Month

This November, the American Diabetes Foundation is asking you to remember that it's national diabetes awareness month.  This nonprofit organization is asking you to get tested for diabetes with the Big Blue Test.

Diabetes has become an epidemic in America.  As obesity rates climb across the nation, our foods continue to receive injections of hormones and sugar boosts, type 2 diabetes is becoming a common occurrence.

According to the American Diabetes Foundation:

Nearly 26 million children and adults in the United States have diabetes.

Another 79 million Americans have prediabetes and are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes.

The American Diabetes Association estimates that the total national cost of diagnosed diabetes in the United States is $174 billion.

The aim of diabetes awareness month is to monitor, prevent, and treat diabetes.  Unfortunately, diabetes has become quite risky ovet the years with increased attention to defective and recalled products.

Diabetes Treatment Can Be Risky- a Popular Diabetes Drug Has Been Linked to Cancer

If you suffer from diabetes, the treatment may be worse than the condition itself.  Recently, the FDA recalled Actos, a diabetes medication that has been linked to bladder cancer.  In its health notification, the FDA warned taking Actos for a year or longer can increase a patient's risk of bladder cancer by as much as 40%.  Multiple studies have actually found this reported risk to be quite low.

The newest study, published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute was contributed by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania.  These researchers found that patients taking TZD (thiazolidinedione drugs) such as Actos were two to three times more likely to develop bladder cancer than patients who took sulfonylurea drugs.  This is especially disturbing since TZD's are prescribed to 20% of diabetes patients today. 


Don't Suffer Diabetes- Get Tested

Don't suffer diabetes when you can get tested and prevent diabetes with healthy life choices.  If you already have diabetes and have been diagnosed with bladder cancer as the result of your treatment, you may want to consult a skilled product liability attorney to determine how best to help you.

Consumer Reports Magazine Says: Skip Actos

As Actoslitigation continues to grow, more researchers are investigating the benefits and dangers associated with this diabetes medication.  Researchers across the globe have been busy publishing articles exposing the links to bladder cancer, heart attacks, and opinions regarding their effectiveness.

In August, 2012, the Consumer Reports Magazine boldly declared, “We say skip Actos as both a generic and brand- name medication, unless other options have failed.”  With a long history of exposing questionable products to the public, this Consumer Reports Magazine criticism carries the weight of a consumer first publication. 

 

Actos Bladder Cancer Claims

 

Actos (Piaglitazone) is a popular type 2 diabetes medication which came under fire from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in June 2011.  Pioglitazone is sold in combination with metformin under the brand names:  Actoplus Met, Actoplus Met XR and Duetact (combining glimepiride in this formula.)

Many studies, including Kaiser Permanente’s 10 year study of thousands of patients, have linked Actos to bladder cancer.  In this study, Kaiser found that Actos patients had as much as a 40% increase in risk for bladder cancer.

In response to this FDA safety communication, injured Actos patients have filed suit across the country.  Patients allege their bladder cancer is the direct result of taking Actos for an extended period of time.  Further claims are also emerging that other kinds of cancer, including renal cancer and pancreatic cancer may also be linked to Actos.

 

What to Do if You Have Been Injured By Actos

 

If you have contracted bladder cancer as a result of taking Actos, you could be entitled to compensation for your injuries.  You should call an experienced attorney to fight for your rights today.  Don’t suffer the ill effects of bladder cancer and watch your finances and quality of life dwindle.  Take your life back and call experienced Actos injury attorneys today.

 

 

ACTOS SUITS INCREASE IN CALIFORNIA

This morning, another 14 diabetes patients in California filed suit in the Los Angeles Superior Court, bringing the count of Californiavictims filing suit to over 115. Nationwide, there have been over 1,000 lawsuits to date.

These complaints allege the manufacturer, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, and their distributor, Eli Lily, “concealed and failed to completely disclose their knowledge that Actos was associated with or could cause bladder cancer or their knowledge that they had failed to fully study and test regarding that risk and, further, made conscious decisions to ignore the association between the use of Actos and pioglitazone hydrochloride and the risk of developing bladder cancer.” 

Many of these lawsuits, such as 5 new lawsuits filed in Los Angeles Superior Court today, are wrongful death claims initiated by surviving family members. Common claims are that a loved one took Actos for over a year in order to control their type 2 or “lifestyle” diabetes and died of bladder cancer while on the drug.

 

WHAT IS ACTOS' EFFECT?

Studies show that there is as much as a 40% increase in getting bladder cancer after taking Actos for a year or longer.  Due to these often repeated results, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a public health warning that using this drug could increase your chances of getting bladder cancer.  Thousands of patients claim to have been injured by Actos. 

Over 20% of the diabetes medication prescribed today is Actos.  Since 2007, it is the most commonly prescribed drug in the world for treating type-2 diabetes.  In America alone, it is the 10^th most prescribed drug. That’s a lot of diabetics at risk for developing bladder cancer.

Injured patients have been filing suit across the United States seeking relief for their injuries.  If you’ve developed bladder cancer after taking Actos, you may be entitled to compensation.  Consult a trusted attorney today to discuss your rights.

ACTOS LITIGATION HEATS UP

Actos litigation has reached an astounding number recently.  As of August, over 800 Actoscases have been filed against manufacturer, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, its subsidiaries, and Eli Lilly.  The complaints largely allege that plaintiffs developed serious health conditions such as bladder cancer as the result of taking their prescribed diabetes medication, Actos. Many of these complainants allege that the defendants aggressively marketed a drug they knew or should have known to be unsafe.

U.S. District Judge Doherty recently signed a Direct Filing and Service of Process Order which consolidated these cases to expedite relief for victims.  This will likely accelerate cases against Takeda Pharmaceuticals, its subsidiaries, and Eli Lilly instead of waiting to file suit in a local court and hoping the case will transfer to a larger district. Actos injury victims can file suit sooner rather than later.

Actos litigation initiated after patients claimed an increased rate of developing bladder cancer.  Recent studies have supported these claims as has the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, who issued a Public Health Communication in June 2011 which alleged that patients who took Actos for a year or longer were 40% more likely to develop bladder cancer.  As a result of this communication, patients were shocked and concerned.  Many patients sought medical care to determine whether or not they had developed bladder cancer as a result of these reported risks.

Many other countries have similarly warned their citizens of the potential adverse health effects associated with taking Actos.  Most recently, Canada Health warned its citizens in April 2012 that based on scientific research, the risk of bladder cancer was higher in Actos (Pioglitazone) patients. And both France and Germany have already removed the medication from the market. 

Actos patients continue to receive diagnoses such as bladder cancer and studies continue to cite the increased risk of bladder cancer associated with taking Actos (Pioglitazone.) If you or your loved one has been injured taking your diabetes medication, you should consult an attorney to see if you are eligible for compensation.  Don’t suffer these ill effects silently.