Actos Bladder Cancer Trial Continues In CA

According to the New York Department of Health, bladder cancer is the fourth most common cancer, excluding skin cancers, among men, and the tenth most common cancer among women in New York State. Scientists aren’t sure what causes the disease, though they know that smoking, exposure to certain chemicals, family history, and previous cancer treatments can all increase risk.

According to a 2011 FDA warning, taking the diabetes medication Actos may also increase risk for bladder cancer, particularly for those patients who take it for over 12 months. Evidence revealed in the first Actos bladder cancer lawsuit to go to trial suggests that manufacturer Takeda was aware of these risks as early as 2005, but failed to provide adequate warnings to physicians and patients.

Plaintiffs filing Actos side effects lawsuits around the country

Takeda is currently facing over 3,000 Actos side effects lawsuits that have been filed around the nation. The first one to go to trial began on February 19, 2013, in the Superior Court of California, Los Angeles. Plaintiff Jack Cooper claimed that after taking Actos for more than four years, he was diagnosed with bladder cancer.

According to court documents, Cooper claimed that Takeda knew or should have known that Actos could increase risk of bladder cancer, but failed to provide adequate warnings. A Bloomberg News report indicated that witness testimony in the trial suggested Takeda put concerns about sales of its product ahead of consumer safety.

Takeda allegedly considered adding a warning about side effects like bladder cancer back in 2005, when a competing company cancelled clinical testing on another similar drug after finding tumors in animal studies. Takeda conducted a survey of doctors to see how such a warning might effect their decisions to prescribe the medication. The survey results indicated the warning would significantly affect sales of Actos. Takeda delayed adding a warning on the label about bladder cancer until the FDA required them to do so in June 2011.

FDA warning sparks more to file claims

Scientific studies as early as 2005 also indicated a link between Actos and bladder cancer. The PROActive three-year study, for example, which examined cardiovascular outcomes, discovered that patients taking Actos were more likely to be diagnosed with bladder cancer than those taking other diabetes medications. Takeda did not reveal this information to doctors, however.

In 2011, Takeda implemented a voluntary Actos recall in France after a study there indicated a greater risk of bladder cancer in men taking the drug for longer than a year. The medication remains available in the U.S., but thousands of plaintiffs have filed an Actos bladder cancer lawsuit to recover damages in court.

When a New York personal injury attorney can help

All federal Actos side effects lawsuits have been centralized in the Western District of Louisiana, where the first bellwether trial is scheduled to begin in November 2014. Meanwhile, personal injury attorneys are carefully watching the California Actos trial, as the outcome may provide clues as to how other juries may react to evidence.

According to court documents, an email sent by a Takeda executive indicated that the “worst-case scenario” would be for regulators to mandate the inclusion of a bladder cancer warning on the Actos label. That warning now exists on the label, but was absent for many years, putting thousands of patients at risk.

If you or a loved one developed bladder cancer after taking Actos, you may benefit from a consultation with a New York personal injury attorney at The Sanders Firm. We have decades of experience defending clients who were injured through no fault of their own, and understand what’s necessary to put together a strong Actos bladder cancer lawsuit. Call us today for a free initial consultation. 1-800-FAIR-PLAY