Actos News

Actos Bladder Cancer Risk Should be Center Stage During American Diabetes Month
Monday, November 5, 2012

November is American Diabetes Month. In an effort to keep diabetes patients safe from unnecessary risks to their health, the law firm of Baum, Hedlund, Aristei & Goldman wants to raise awareness about the dangers associated with Actos (pioglitazone), a drug used to treat Type 2 diabetes.

An ongoing epidemiological study conducted by Actos manufacturer Takeda Pharmaceuticals indicates that taking the drug can increase the risk of developing bladder cancer by 40 percent. The results of another study conducted by the French government, prompted France and Germany to pull Actos off the shelves, citing the link to bladder cancer. Canada has taken similar steps to remove the drug from the country's list of approved medications.

According to a lawsuit filed by Baum, Hedlund, Aristie & Goldman on behalf of numerous patients who developed bladder cancer after taking Actos, Takeda knew or should have known that Actos use for longer than twelve months was associated with bladder cancer. “Despite its knowledge of this dangerous side effect, Takeda refused to warn patients, physicians and the medical community about the risk of bladder cancer,” the complaint alleged.

American Diabetes Month is the result of efforts made by The American Diabetes Association, which reports that roughly 26 million Americans have diabetes, and many more have pre-diabetes.

The Actos lawyers at Baum, Hedlund, Aristei & Goldman urge patients to talk to their doctors about alternative treatments for their Type 2 diabetes. If you are currently taking Actos, make sure to seek medical advice from your doctor before discontinuing the use of the drug.