Do you take Actos? Have you suffered from its side effects? If you take the diabetes medication, you may want to speak to your doctor about the drug’s links to bladder cancer.
According to Bloomberg, due to injury allegations, Actos’ manufacturer, Takeda Pharmaceutical Co., has offered to settle thousands of lawsuits at a cost of $2.2 billion. The news outlet reported that it would be one of the largest settlements involving a prescription drug or medical device in U.S. history.
Currently, there are more than 8,000 lawsuits pending in federal and state courts. Plaintiffs in the cases allege that Actos has caused them injuries and long-term illnesses including bladder cancer.
Although the drug was in the marketplace for years, it was not until 2011 that Takeda updated its warning label to include information about possible cancer risks. Because of this, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) initiated a five-year study on the instances of bladder cancer for individuals taking the drug.
To read an FDA safety communication about the drug and its cancer risks, you can click here.
The potential settlement would amount to a payment of about $275,000 for each case, according to Bloomberg. Any settlement would still need approval from the various courts involved in litigation. Some attorneys have argued that the proposed settlement is still not enough money for all of the patients who developed bladder cancer.
SHOULD I SPEAK TO AN ATTORNEY ABOUT A DEFECTIVE DRUG?
As the Actos settlement talks show, if a defective drug harms you, you can hold its manufacturer liable. Through a lawsuit, you can seek money for future medical costs and pain and suffering. You should not have to endure anguish because a manufacturer decided to place an unsafe product in the marketplace.
By speaking to an attorney, you can hold the manufacturer accountable for its carelessness. For more information about how we have helped injury victims, visit our verdicts and settlements page.
“Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” – Matthew 5:3