Despite the fact that Actos bladder cancer lawsuits are on the rise in the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved the first generic version of the diabetes drug. Drug maker Mylan Pharmaceuticals received permission from the FDA in August 2012 to market generic Actos in 15, 20 and 45 mg tablets, …
Despite the fact that Actos bladder cancer lawsuits are on the rise in the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved the first generic version of the diabetes drug. Drug maker Mylan Pharmaceuticals received permission from the FDA in August 2012 to market generic Actos in 15, 20 and 45 mg tablets, in spite of mounting concerns about the safety of the brand-name medication. The generic equivalent of Actos will carry the same warnings as the brand-name drug, including a boxed warning notifying consumers that the medication may cause or worsen heart failure, and a more recent notice that use of the diabetes drug for more than one year may increase a patient’s risk of developing bladder cancer. If you have suffered bladder cancer side effects that you believe to be linked to Actos, contact our experienced Actos attorneys at Oklahoma Legal Center today.
Actos and Bladder Cancer Side Effects
Manufactured by Takeda Pharmaceuticals, Actos (pioglitazone) is one of the most popular medications used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Actos is a once-daily pill that works by increasing the body’s sensitivity to insulin, and has been available to diabetic patients in the U.S. since 1999. Despite the popularity of Actos in treating type 2 diabetes though, the side effects potentially linked to the medication have been the subject of hundreds of complaints filed in courts across the country. Some Actos lawsuits claim that the side effects of the diabetes drug outweigh any possible benefits, and others have called for an Actos recall in the United States. Although the FDA has yet to issue an Actos recall, the medication was removed from shelves in both France and Germany in 2011, in light of side effect research conducted by French insurers.
FDA Warnings for Actos Side Effects
In August 2011, the FDA issued a warning to patients based on the agency’s review of data from a five-year interim analysis of an ongoing study, indicating that use of Actos for more than one year may be associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer. Last month, a new Actos bladder cancer study indicated that patients who took the diabetes medication for less than five years had a two-times increased risk of developing bladder cancer, and those who took it for more than five years had a three-times increased risk. Patients who opt for generic Actos to treat type 2 diabetes should be aware of two important things: Generic Actos is associated with the same bladder cancer risk as the brand-name drug; and those who suffer side effects of generic Actos will not be able to pursue compensation by filing a drug injury lawsuit.
Actos Lawsuits for Side Effect Claims
Per a landmark Supreme Court decision dealt in 2011, patients who suffer side effects from generic drugs are no longer able to hold the drug maker liable for their injuries, as long as the generic label matched the brand-name label. So patients who choose generic Actos over the brand-name drug in an attempt to save money could be putting themselves at a huge risk; one that comes with limited legal recourse. If you have experienced an adverse side effect you believe to be linked to the diabetes drug Actos, contact our skilled Actos attorneys to discuss your legal options. With the help of a team of knowledgeable drug injury lawyers, you can protect your legal rights and seek fair and timely reimbursement for your injuries.