Actos News
Takeda and Eli Lilly Sued Over Actos Bladder Cancer Claims
September 5, 2014
 The law firm of Baum, Hedlund, Aristei & Goldman has filed lawsuits on behalf of several people who claim their bladder cancer was caused by taking a diabetes drug called Actos (pioglitazine). The lawsuits were filed in federal court in Louisiana and California state court against Takeda Pharmaceutical Company USA and Eli Lilly, the companies that manufactured Actos and brought the drug to market in the US.
Five of the lawsuits joined at least 4,000 other Actos cases consolidated in the multi-district litigation (MDL No. 6:11-md-2299) before the Honorable Judge Rebecca Doherty of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana. Dick Hopkins of Gig Harbor, Washington and Donald McQuinn, Sr. of Westfield, North Carolina are two of the five plaintiffs who claim to have developed bladder cancer as a result of taking Actos.
The other lawsuit was filed in California state court on behalf of Ron Stansell of West Covina, California. Like the other victims to join the Louisiana MDL, Stansell claims that his bladder cancer was caused by taking Actos.
All of the plaintiffs involved in these cases allege that Takeda promoted Actos as a safe and effective way to treat diabetes, even though the company knew about dangerous side effects associated with the drug. According to the lawsuits, Takeda became aware of these side effects dating back to the 1990's and rather than warning the patients and the medical community about the drug's dangers, they continued to market Actos as safe and effective.
Plaintiffs in the lawsuits say if they had known about the dangers associated with the drug, they would have never taken it. They are seeking punitive damages for Takeda and Eli Lilly's negligence in an effort to stop Takeda and other drug companies from similar conduct.
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