ACTOS® Drug Recall
Type 2 Diabetes Drug Actos®
May Increase the Risk of Bladder Cancer
In June 2011, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning for Actos® due to an increased risk of bladder cancer in patients who have taken the medication for an extended period of time. The FDA now recommends that doctors not prescribe Actos® to patients with active bladder cancer or a history of bladder cancer.
Actos® (pioglitazone) is a thiazolidinedione drug that is indicated for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. It is prescribed either alone or in combination with other drugs, typically sulfonylurea, metformin or insulin. Approved by the FDA in 1999, Actos® works by increasing the body's sensitivity to insulin in order to increase blood sugar levels.
Takeda Pharmaceuticals, the manufacturer of Actos®, is conducting an ongoing study of the side effects associated with the drug. In September 2010, the FDA launched a safety review of the study and found that there is a 40-percent increase risk of bladder cancer in patients taking Actos for more than one year.
In addition, researchers in France recently conducted an epidemiological study with findings that also suggest an increased risk of bladder cancer. France has suspended the use of Actos® and Germany recommends not to start Actos in new patients.
If you or someone you know been diagnosed with bladder cancer or developed symptoms of bladder cancer after taking Actos®, contact the law firm of Perdue Kidd & Vickery for a free consultation.
