NEWS - Law

SBJ Staff Report

Nov 28, 2011 - United States residents who suffered bladder cancer after taking Actos – the nation’s top selling diabetes drug – may have a legal right to pursue financial compensation, according to Girard Gibbs LLP, a national ligitation firm.  Many users of Actos who have contracted bladder cancer or suffered other symptoms have already filed cases or retained attorneys to protect their rights.

On Thursday, December 1, a multi-district legislation panel in Savannah will hear arguments that will determine the Court where the Federal cases will be coordinated.  The arguments are being heard in Savannah because

Girard Gibbs LLP, with offices in New York and San Francisco, recently filed a federal Actos bladder cancer lawsuit against Takeda Pharmaceuticals and Eli Lilly and Company. The lawsuit follows an FDA Actos safety warning released in June 2011 that concluded that exposure to Actos for more than a year can increase the risk of bladder cancer by 40%.

Following the FDA’s safety warning, Takeda submitted a new Actos warning label that disclosed the risk of bladder cancer associated with use of the medication.

Since the FDA Actos warning was released, a number of lawsuits were filed by people who took Actos and later contracted bladder cancer, alleging that Takeda Pharmaceuticals, Actos’ manufacturer, failed to warn them about the risks associated with the medication.