A new study released earlier this month, and published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, found that 
thiazolidinedione (TZD) drugs like Actos were more likely to cause bladder cancer than a different class of drugs called sulfonylurea drugs. Patients who took TZD drugs were two to three times more likely to develop bladder cancer than diabetes patients who took sulfonylurea drugs.
Researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania analyzed 60,000 patients with Type 2 diabetes. They found that, in the course of 5 or more years, 170 patients in 100,000 were expected to develop bladder cancer, while 60 in 100,000 who took sulfonylurea drugs like Glucotrol.
The study noted that patients with Type 2 diabetes were more likely to develop bladder cancer than the general population. However, the findings showed that drugs like Actos significantly increased the likelihood of developing bladder cancer.
A multidistrict litigation (MDL) has been filed in the Western District of Louisiana, the Honorable Rebecca Doherty presiding. Judge Doherty recently scheduled the bellwether cases for MDL 2299 against Actos manufacturer Takeda Pharmaceuticals, and she also extended the deadline to file new cases in the MDL.
If you or a loved one has Type 2 diabetes, took Actos to treat that disease, and have since been diagnosed with bladder cancer, heart disease, liver failure, or diabetic macular edema, you may be entitled to compensation. Actos has been linked to an increased risk of bladder cancer, and the lawsuits allege Takeda Pharmaceuticals knew or should have known about the link. Because of the startling scientific discoveries over the last year, France and Germany both banned the drug in 2011. The experienced professionals at Strom Law, LLC, offer free consultations to discuss the facts of your Actos case and get you on the road to recovery. Contact us today 803.252.4800.
