Actos Bladder Cancer Lawsuit Filed By Diabetes Patient

A California man has filed one of the first Actos bladder cancer lawsuits against Takeda Pharmaceuticals in the United States, alleging that the popular diabetes drug caused him to develop an aggressive form of the cancer. 

The complaint was filed by Jules Berck in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, alleging that he developed bladder cancer from Actos after taking the medication for two years.

The Actos lawsuit comes just weeks after the FDA warned about the increased risk of bladder cancer with use of Actos for more than year.

The FDA has allowed the medication to remain on the market, although an Actos recall was issued in France and Germany after research demonstrated that there is a higher incidence of bladder cancer among user of the drug.

Berck’s lawsuit over Actos alleges that Takeda Pharmaceuticals knew or should have known about the bladder cancer side effects of Actos, and failed to adequately warn consumers or the medical community about the potential health risks.

While the complaint is believed to be the first filed in the United States over the connection between Actos and bladder cancer, additional cases are expected to be filed as Actos lawyers continue to review and investigate potential lawsuits for individuals throughout the United States.

Actos (pioglitazone) was approved by FDA to treat Type 2 Diabetes in July, 1999. The medication has grown in popularity in recent years, after studies linked it’s primary competitor, Avandia, to an increased risk of heart attacks and death. Last year, Actos generated $3.4 billion in sales for Takeda Pharmaceuticals.