Woman Files Lawsuit Alleging Actos Killed Her Mother

Inez Mae Buck has filed an Actos Lawsuit on behalf of her decedent mother, following her death from Actos Bladder Cancer. Her Actos Lawsuit was filed in the Superior Court of California, County of San Diego. FDA officials began reviewing the potential risk of Actos bladder cancer problems in September 2010, after interim data from an on-going 10 year study found that users may face an increased risk the longer they take the drug. Both France and Germany have already instituted an Actos recall, and the drug has seen increased label warnings in the U.S. and across the rest of the European Union.

All of the lawsuits over Actos and bladder cancer filed in various courts throughout the United States include similar allegations, that Takeda concealed their knowledge that users may face an increased risk of bladder cancer and failed to provide adequate warnings to consumers or the medical community. Takeda Pharmaceuticals, the manufacturer of Actos, has indicated it intends to file a motion to transfer all of the California state court lawsuits over Actos to the federal MDL. However, lawyers representing plaintiffs who have brought the cases in California maintain that there is a legitimate basis for keeping the cases in state court, as Takeda operates a facility in San Diego.

All Actos lawsuits filed in California state court by individuals who developed bladder cancer after taking the popular type 2 diabetes drug will be consolidated and coordinated during pretrial proceedings. In June 2011, an Actos recall was issued in France after health authorities ordered doctors to stop prescribing the drug due to the possible risk of bladder cancer. A French study of public insurance data confirmed that there is a slight increase in the risk of bladder cancer with Actos use, adding to the prior concerns about long-term use of the medication. Many have indicated that the FDA should remove Actos from the market in the United States as well, due to the risk of bladder cancer outweighing the potential benefits provided by the medication.