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Actos and Risk of Bladder Cancer
Posted by: Craig A. Knapp
January 06, 2012

It's a difficult decision to make: deciding between the lesser of two evils. With an increasing amount of lawsuits taking place against the Type 2 diabetes drug, Actos, more patients are being faced with the dilemma of whether to risk the possibility of bladder cancer in order to treat their diabetes. Despite thousands of pending litigation, the FDA has still not taken the drug off the market, claiming they are still reviewing the safety of Actos.

Having first hit the market in 1999, the FDA did not find out about the risk of developing bladder cancer until a 10-year study was released in September 2010 with its findings. Upon releasing these statistics, France and Germany took Actos off the market immediately, but the U.S. is still selling the drug.

According to a recent Bloomberg report, Takeda Pharmaceuticals made $4.8 billion off of the Actos drug alone in 2010. However, with the awareness surrounding Actos' possible link to bladder cancer, Bloomberg predicted that Takeda will see a $2.1 billion loss in the next fiscal year with many generic drugs taking the place of Actos. With the tide of litigation continuing to rise, the company could face a severe financial setback if it's determined that Takeda knowingly marketed and sold Actos despite the potential health risks. Takeda did not comment on these financial loss claims.

If you or someone you love has developed bladder cancer after taking the Type 2 diabetes drug, Actos, don't be afraid to seek help. There are thousands of others who have experienced the same mistreatment you endured. Knapp & Roberts is currently fighting Takeda Pharmaceuticals and we can help you, too. Reach out with any questions you have and we will help guide you through the process. Your story matters; let us help. 

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Dangers of Taking Actos
Posted by: Craig A. Knapp
August 28, 2011

Would you take a drug that could possibly cause bladder cancer? What if it was pulled from the market in two European countries? The FDA recently released a warning on the diabetes drug Actos after finding that patients who took the drug for more than a year may have an increased risk of bladder cancer.

Part of the thiazolidinedione (TZD) class, Actos is now the second medication in that class associated with serious side effects in this past year, with Avandia being the first. Avandia was highly restricted last fall after concerns rose about an increased risk of heart attack.

As you can imagine, this has caused controversy in the diabetes community. For those patients who are nonresponsive to metformin, Actos has been the drug physicians typically turned to, with Avandia being the last resort. Because of this, patients are seemingly faced with choosing the lesser of two evils: Actos and bladder cancer or Avandia and a heart attack.  Be sure to consult with your doctor about ALL the dangers associated with Actos and ask QUESTIONS. 

If you or someone you love has fallen victim to Actos' harmful side effects (bladder cancer), the best thing you can do is give the experienced lawyers at Knapp & Roberts a call. We care about you and your health. You should be able to trust the medication you're taking.  We can help you spread the word about the harmful side effects of these drugs to not only help you, but also help prevent others from having the same hardship and experience that you did. We can help, give us a call.

For more information on the FDA's findings, find the FDA reports here.

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