Actos Bladder Cancer Lawsuit Information
Our attorneys are available for a free consultation regarding cases of bladder cancer that may be linked to Acotos, a Type-2 diabetes drug. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a waring that use of Actos (pioglitazone) for more than one year may be associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer.
Attorney David Szerlag is our lead attorney for these cases. You can call the firm and ask for David (1-888-377-8900 toll free) or submit our free consultation form. Pioglitazone (the active ingredient associated with bladder cancer) is sold as a single-ingredient product under the brand-name Actos. It is also sold in combination with metformin (Actoplus Met, Actoplus Met XR) and glimepiride (Duetact). All of these products are manufactured by Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America, Inc.
A planned five-year interim analysis of an ongoing, ten-year epidemiological study of piogliazone (the active ingredient in Actos) found an increased risk of bladder cancer was noted among patients with the longest exposure to pioglitazone, and in those exposed to the highest cumulative dose of pioglitazone.1 Compared to never being exposed to pioglitazone, a duration of pioglitazone therapy longer than 12 months was associated with a 40% increase in risk (HR 1.4; 95% CI 0.9 to 2.1).
There was also an epidemiological study conducted in France which suggested an increased risk of bladder cancer with pioglitazone, the active ingredient in Actos. The study included approximately 1.5 million patients with diabetes, followed for up to 4 years (2006-2009). The results showed that after adjusting for age, sex, and use of other anti-diabetic medications, there was a statistically significant increase in the risk for bladder cancer in patients exposed to pioglitazone compared to patients exposed to other anti-diabetic agents (HR 1.22; 95% CI 1.03 to 1.43). The results also showed a dose effect related to cumulative dose >28,000 mg (HR 1.75; 95% CI 1.22 to 2.5) and for exposures longer than 1 year (HR 1.34; 95% CI 1.02 to 1.75). A significant increase in risk was observed in males (HR 1.28; 95% CI 1.09 to 1.51), but not females, who experienced only a few cases. Based on the results of this study, France has suspended the use of pioglitazone and Germany has recommended not to start pioglitazone in new patients.
Millions of people in the United States have taken Actos and may be at risk for bladder cancer. If you have been diagnosed with bladder cancer and have taken Actos, contact David Szerlag for a free consultation.
