Actos News

Panel to Consider Consolidation of Actos Lawsuits in December
Monday, October 31, 2011

In December, a panel of federal judges will determine whether to consolidate Actos bladder cancer lawsuits before a single judge for pretrial management. In August, plaintiffs had petitioned the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation asking for the consolidation of the Actos lawsuits for pretrial management and discovery. Multidistrict litigation allows for product liability lawsuits to be coordinated under a single judge for pretrial proceedings, mainly to avoid discovery duplication.

The U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation has scheduled a date of December 1, 2011 to hear oral arguments for the motion for consolidation of the lawsuits. These Actos bladder cancer lawsuits allege that Takeda Pharmaceuticals, the company that manufactures Actos (pioglitazone), was aware about the risks of bladder cancer from the use of the diabetes drug, but failed to warn consumers of these risks. Documents provided by Takeda Pharmaceuticals indicate that at least 54 Actos bladder cancer lawsuits have been filed across the country in Illinois, New York, New Jersey, Ohio and California. Takeda Pharmaceuticals is agreeable to the consolidation for pretrial proceedings, but does not agree on the location.

Actos lawyers across the country are investigating claims involving patients who developed bladder cancer after taking the type II diabetes drug. Last year, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirmed that there is some evidence indicating that prolonged use of Actos increases the risk of bladder cancer. Specifically, those who have been taking the drug for more than two years may be at a higher risk of bladder cancer. The agency has stopped short of an outright ban on the drug, instead recommending that people avoid high dosages of prolonged use of Actos.