When a pharmaceutical manufacturer releases a new drug on the market, a Reno personal injury lawyer knows that the drug maker is required to disclose certain information to consumers, including all potential side effects and adverse reactions.
Makers of the diabetic drug Actos is under scrutiny because they allegedly failed to include data that links the drug to an increased incidence of bladder cancer, according to the Chicago Sun Times. When people do not know the potential danger they face while taking a medication, they could become the unsuspecting victim of a serious condition caused by the medication itself.
Actos was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 1999 as an oral antidiabetic agent. This drug was designed to be used in conjunction with diet and exercise for people who have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Although Actos has been successful at regulating insulin in some diabetic patients, it can be dangerous to others.
Black box warning
At least 9,000 people who have taken the medication Actos have filed allegations against the drug’s manufacturer, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company. While Takeda continues to stand behind their product, they have agreed to pay a $2.4 billion settlement. This settlement will be divided amongst the people whose bladder cancer diagnosis was a direct result of taking Actos for a certain period of time.
The FDA acknowledged this danger and ordered the manufacturer to include a warning on the drug’s packaging. This warning is meant to alert patients to the increased possibility of bladder cancer when taking the medication. Studies show that patients who take the drug for more than one year have a 40 to 80 percent increased risk of developing bladder cancer.
Actos packaging information also urges patients who are taking the medication to tell their physicians if they notice any of the following symptoms, as reported by Takeda:
- Pain while they are urinating
- The need to urinate more frequently than usual
- Notice blood in their urine or that their urine is red in color
Previous to the settlement, this information was not available to patients and those taking the drug were unaware that these symptoms may be an indicator of bladder cancer, a fact known by a Reno product liability lawyer.
When people acquire an illness or medical condition because a drug manufacturer failed to alert physicians and patients to the potential dangers of taking that drug, victims may be eligible for compensation. People who are going through these types of situations may want to consider speaking to a Reno personal injury lawyer.