Actos Bladder Cancer Lawsuits Consolidated in Louisiana Court

All lawsuits filed in federal court against Actos for possible links to bladder cancer have been consolidated into the Western District of Louisiana. According to Bloomberg News, the experienced Honorable Judge Rebecca Doherty will be presiding over this multidistrict litigation. Actos is the world’s most popular drug used to control blood sugar in adults with Type 2 diabetes. Over the summer though, federal regulators from the FDA found study results linking Actos to increased risks of developing potentially fatal bladder cancer.

It is believed that there are currently over 100 Actos lawsuits in federal courts, and dozens more are expected to be filed. The panel that decided to combine these lawsuits released a statement saying, “Centralization in the Western District of Louisiana will serve the convenience of the parties and witnesses and promote the just and efficient conduct of this litigation.” It also allowed them to “assign the litigation to an experienced judge who sits in a district in which no other multidistrict litigation is pending.”

In June 2011, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning on Actos, stating that "use of the diabetes medication Actos (pioglitazone) for more than one year may be associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer." The drug’s label soon added this warning. Actos is manufactured in Asia by Takeda Pharmaceutical Company. It is alleged that Eli Lilly and Takeda both purposely withheld study results and information so as not to have the drug rejected by the FDA.

If you or a loved one has taken Actos and were diagnosed with bladder cancer, you may be eligible to enter a lawsuit against the manufacturer. To see if you may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering, contact a knowledgeable Actos bladder cancer lawye for a free, no-risk case review. Contact us for any medical malpractice concerns today.