Actos Bladder Cancer Link Prompts Drop in Profits

In light of new FDA warnings and various reports alleging a link between type 2 diabetes drug Actos and bladder cancer, the Takeda Pharmaceutical Company has projected a significant drop in profits for the coming six month period. In the previous six month period, Japan’s largest drug manufacturer boasted a net profit of $1.74 billion, a figure supported substantially by returns from its top selling drug, Actos. For the coming six month period, Takeda estimates it will see a 31 percent drop in profits—a loss of roughly $550 million—which can be attributed to growing concerns about, and the continued drop in sales of, Actos.

The use of the diabetes medication Actos for more than one year may be associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer.

Takeda debuted Actos (generic: pioglitazone) in 1999 as an oral diabetes medication which helps control blood sugar levels. Until reports surfaced of Actos causing bladder cancer, it was Takeda’s top selling drug bringing in $3.4 billion for the company just last year. The first public announcement of the Actos problems with bladder cancer was made in 2010, when the FDA announced that they would be reviewing data from a ten-year study conducted to determine whether Actos has been linked to bladder cancer.

In June 2011, the FDA issued an updated warning, informing the public that “the use of the diabetes medication Actos for more than one year may be associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer.” The FDA cited a French study which found that patients taking Actos for more than a year had an increased risk of up to 34 percent of developing bladder cancer. In June 2011, Actos sales were suspended in France.

Reportedly, Takeda’s legal and financial issues with Actos are ongoing, and will be for a while. In the past three months, a growing number of US citizens have filed Actos bladder cancer lawsuits, claiming that Takeda failed to provide sufficient warning for consumers and the medical community about the risk of bladder cancer. If you or a loved one has developed bladder cancer while taking Actos, you may be entitled to recover compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering and other damages resulting from the disease. If you believe you’ve suffered from bladder cancer caused by Actos use, please complete the form on the right to find out if you may be entitled to monetary damages.