Current Litigation
TorHoerman Law Leads Actos Litigation
Since filing the first Cook County Actos case against Takeda Pharmaceutical, the attorneys at TorHoerman Law, in cooperation with other leading law firms, have been working diligetnly to coordinate the Illinois litigation against Takeda Pharmaceutical, the manufacturer of Actos, a Japanese Corporation that has its U.S. headquarters in Illinois. For updates on Actos litigation, please subscribe to our RSS feed for Actos.
On June 15, 2011 The FDA has issued a new warning of increased bladder cancer risk associated with the use of the diabetes drug Actos (pioglitazone).
This warning comes after a review of data from a five-year interim analysis of an ongoing study of Actos by the manufacturer, Takeda Pharmaceutical Co.
The results show that although there was no increased risk of bladder cancer among Actos users overall, there was an increased risk of bladder cancer amonth those who had used the drug the longest. There was also a greater risk of bladder cancer among Actos users who had been exposed to the highest cumulative dose of the drug.
Prior to the FDA warning - several Eurpoean Markets, France and Germany, suspended the use of Actos, citing concerns over an increased risk of patients developing bladder cancer.
Takeda's Type2 Diabetes drug, Actos, grew in popularity after use of Avandia, GlaxoSmith Kline's controversial drug was severely restricted in the US because of concerns of an increased risk of heart attack and heart failure last fall. Takeda had profits from sales of Actos in the U.S of over $3 billion in 2009 and just under $3 billion in 2010.
Actos is not the only Diabetes drug that has come under scrutiny. Avandia has been tied to an increased risk of heart problems, strokes and death. The FDA has restricted access to the use of Avandia. The FDA now requires healthcare providers and patients to enroll in the Avandia-Rosiglitazone Medicines Access Program in order to prescribe Avanadia. Further, after November 18, 2011, Avandia will no longer be available through retail pharmacies. Patients enrolled in the program will receive their medicine through the mail.
