Actos Injury Case in Illinois Decided in Favor of Takeda Pharmaceuticals
Takeda Pharmaceuticals, the drug company behind Type 2 diabetes drug Actos, won their most recent personal injury lawsuit that alleged that Actos caused the plaintiff’s bladder cancer.
On Thursday, May 15th, the 12-member jury in Chicago ruled that Actos was not responsible for plaintiff Diane Whitlatch’s husband to develop bladder cancer. The trial lasted just over four weeks.
Mrs. Whitlatch’s husband died in 2006 from bladder cancer, and she sued Takeda Pharmaceuticals two years ago, after she discovered that Actos use, and bladder cancer, are linked. She claimed that Takeda failed to warn patients and doctors about the dangers inherent in taking Actos. William Whitlatch died when he was 57.
“We empathize with the Whitlatch family but agree with the verdict,” Takeda USA General Counsel Kenneth Greisman, said in the statement. “Takeda is confident in the therapeutic benefits of Actos and its importance as a treatment for type 2 diabetes.”
“The full picture shows that Takeda did the right thing,” Sherry Knutson, an attorney for Takeda,, said. “They were all over this bladder issue since 1996.”
“Bladder cancer does happen for a host of reasons that have nothing to do with Actos,” she said. Austin pointed out that Whitlatch has other markers for potentially developing cancer, including being in his 50’s and a former heavy smoker.
As many as 10,000 cases have been filed against Takeda for personal injury and wrongful death related to taking Actos. One of the most high-profile Actos trials currently underway involves two plaintiffs in Las Vegas, Nevada, who seek $1 billion in damages for their bladder cancer, which developed after they began taking Actos.
The company also faces a multidistrict litigation (MDL). The first bellwether trial, from plaintiff Terrence Allen, was decided in favor of the plaintiff, and Takeda, along with their US distributor Eli Lilly, were told they must pay $9 million in damages because the patient developed bladder cancer after taking Actos.
Additionally, many different medical studies have begun to reveal numerous dangerous side effects related to Actos. The most recent, a study at the Kaohsiung Medical University in Taiwan looked at 35,000 diabetic patients and found that taking Actos to treat Type 2 diabetes could lead to chronic kidney disease. Potential research subjects were identified from a medical database in 2003, and followed between 2005 and 2009. Patients were divided by age, gender, duration of their diabetes, whether or not they had bladder cancer, whether or not they had ever taken Actos to treat their diabetes, and how long they had taken Actos.
The Strom Law Firm Can Help with Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Cases, Including Against Actos
There are several side effects associated with Actos®. You should seek medical attention if you experience:
- shortness of breath or trouble breathing,
- chest pain,
- extreme fatigue,
- irregular heartbeat,
- dilated neck veins,
- swelling of face, fingers, feet, or lower legs,
- decreased urine output, and
- weight gain
If you or a loved one have taken Actos to treat Type 2 diabetes, and have since suffered dangerous side effects including developing bladder cancer, heart disease, liver failure, or diabetic macular edema, you may be entitled to compensation. The attorneys at the Strom Law Firm can help with personal injury cases, including against Actos manufacturer Takeda Pharmaceuticals. We offer free, confidential consultations to discuss the facts of your case, so do not hesitate to contact us. 803.252.4800
