Actos® Manufacturer Agrees to Settle Bladder Cancer Lawsuits

After 9,000 lawsuits having been filed against them, Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. has agreed to pay $2.37 billion to resolve claims that the popular diabetes drug Actos® causes bladder cancer.

Actos® was introduced into the market in 1999 to treat diabetes, and it is still being prescribed. Takeda claims that the lawsuits filed are without merit and the benefits of Actos® outweigh the risks. However, the company has agreed to settle bladder cancer claims to reduce the uncertainties of litigation.

If 95 percent of plaintiffs agree to the settlement, the company will pay out $2.37 billion, but if 97 percent of plaintiffs agree to the settlement, the amount will climb to $2.4 billion. The terms of the settlement would provide each plaintiff with upwards of $296,000 depending on the patients age, smoking history, family history and other variables.

Last year, a jury in Louisiana ordered Takeda and Eli Lilly Co., a co-marketer of Actos, to pay $9 billion in damages to a victim who was diagnosed with bladder cancer after taking the drug. The award was later reduced by a judge to $36.8 million.

Since 2013, Takeda has faced at least nine trials related to Actos; five resulted in awards for the plaintiffs.

Actos® Side Effects

Several studies, including the most recent published by the British Medical Journal in 2012, have revealed that Actos® led to an increased risk of developing bladder cancer among study participants.

Some other side effects Actos® users have reported include:

• Congestive heart failure
• Hypoglycemia
• Liver failure
• Edema (fluid retention)

Victims of Actos® side effects may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, lost wages and their pain and suffering. If you believe that your medical problems are a result of taking Actos or another dangerous drug, contact an experienced Fort Worth personal injury attorney at Anderson, Cummings & Drawhorn, LLP for a free case review.

Call (817) 920-9000 for help with your potential lawsuit today.