Multibillion-Dollar Lawsuits Adding up for Takeda Pharmaceuticals

A multibillion-dollar trial involving the drug Actos, manufactured by Takeda Pharmaceuticals, resumes today in a Las Vegas court. Actos is a single-ingredient drug used in conjunction with diet and exercise to help manage blood sugar levels in patients with type-2 diabetes. In the lawsuit, Bertha Triana, 80, and Delores Cipriano, 81 claim that taking Actos led to bladder cancer in both women. According to an article published by Drugwatch, “their attorneys are expected to call experts who will testify about the number of warnings Takeda officials ignored or hid that indicated the drug could lead to bladder cancer.”

Delores Cipriano was diagnosed with bladder cancer in July 2012 after being prescribed Actos for about 14 months. So far, she has undergone 2 painful surgeries to remove tumors in her bladder. Bertha Triana was diagnosed with the disease after taking the drug for more than two years. According to her lawyers, Triana “had four operations to remove bladder tumors and is undergoing her third round of chemotherapy.”

During the trial, the plaintiff’s attorneys are expected to argue that Takeda Pharmaceuticals willingly and knowingly engaged in “spoliation of evidence” relating Actos to bladder cancer. In other words, the women believe the manufacturer was aware of the link between the drug and bladder cancer, and made an intentional or negligent effort to cover up the evidence.

This is not the only case against Takeda Pharmaceuticals. In fact, more than 3,000 federal lawsuits have been filed against the drug company so far for failing to advise patients that taking Actos for more than 12 months could cause bladder cancer. Closing arguments began today on an Actos case in Louisiana that began in February. Drugwatch reports that, “if the plaintiff, Terrance Allen, wins the bellwether case of this federal multidistrict litigation (MDL), it could pave the way to a global settlement if Takeda is found guilty of gross negligence.”

The FDA has taken notice of the situation and has undergone several reviews of the drug before issuing a warning to consumers about the possible link between Actos and bladder cancer. The Food and Drug Administration declared in 2011 that taking the blood sugar treatment for more than one year could cause the deadly disease. After the announcement, both France and Germany banned the use of Actos outright.

Despite rigorous the approval process required by the FDA, our country is still affected by dangerous medications and drugs, every year. Like all consumer products companies, pharmaceutical companies have the legal responsibility to ensure that their drugs are properly tested and do not pose a significant risk to users. They are also obligated to publish possible side effects associated with their medications, but, as evidenced by the Actos lawsuits, that is not always the case.

If you or a loved one was injured by a defective drug, Alman & Altman can help. Our dedicated team of experienced Products Liability Lawyer is available around the clock to discuss your rights and options to collect compensation for your injuries. Our team of product liability and drug injury attorneys have decades of experience handling all types of defective medication cases, and have fought against some of the largest pharmaceutical corporations to achieve the highest possible settlements for our clients.

Read the full article at Drugwatch

And the FDA findings at FDA

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