The popular diabetes medication pioglitazone, marketed as Actos, has been linked to serious medical complications including bladder cancer, respiratory distress, congestive heart failure and liver damage. Actos and its rival Avandia have been effective medications used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes, a condition in which the body is unable to process insulin.Avandia came under intense scrutiny by the United States Food and Drug Administration, known as the FDA, after reports revealed significant risks of heart attacks and congestive heart failure related to the drug. Although the FDA has not issued an official recall of Avandia, the agency required that patients taking the drug sign a waiver and consent form acknowledging understanding of the risks. Physicians continue to prescribe Avandia despite current FDA warnings and ongoing investigations regarding its safety.
After reports of complications and risk factors associated with Avandia became public knowledge, Actos was aggressively promoted to medical professionals as the new wonder drug for treatment of type 2 diabetes. Unfortunately, Actos is currently under scrutiny by the FDA and medical professionals due to concerns regarding significant risks of bladder cancer, in addition to previously known risks of congestive heart failure and liver damage. Actos has recently been linked to the development of macular degeneration, a condition affecting the retina that involves distorted vision and can lead to partial blindness.
Takeda Pharmaceutical Company, Ltd., based in Japan, is the largest pharmaceutical company in Asia. The company has promoted Actos as a safe and effective treatment for patients with type 2 diabetes. Actos, initially introduced to the market in 1999, has become the best selling diabetes medication in the world. According to Takeda’s financial records, sales of Actos generated revenues in excess of $4 billion during the 2008 fiscal year.
Serious medical problems and life-threatening complications associated with the use of Actos have resulted in multiple actos personal injury and class action lawsuits filed against Takeda Pharmaceutical Company. Class action lawsuits allege that Takeda continued to promote and market Actos as a safe treatment for type 2 diabetes despite FDA warnings and company knowledge concerning adverse side effects. Negligence claims include product liability, failure to warn medical professionals and consumers of known risks associated with the drug, fraud, deceit and breaches of express and implied warranties.
Anyone injured by adverse actos side effects or problems caused by Actos may be entitled to recover financial compensation. Several types of compensation can be pursued through civil litigation, including reimbursement for current and future medical expenses, lost wages and loss of future earnings. Compensation claims can be brought for pain and suffering, loss of consortium and for recovery of attorney fees, costs and expenses associated with litigation. Most state and federal jurisdictions require that lawsuits be filed within a certain time frame, known as a statute of limitations, which is usually two years following the date of the injurious event or diagnosis. Drug injury litigation can be a complex process requiring expert medical and legal research. It is important that the actos law firm selected has adequate resources with which to battle powerful drug companies and protect consumers from tragic medical consequences due to bad drugs.
