Actos Recall Will Not Be Forced in Europe

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has announced that it will not force an Actos recall, despite widespread reports linking the popular diabetes drug pioglitazone (Actos) to bladder cancer. Though the drug will not be recalled, it is recommended that doctors only use it as a second or third line of treatment of Type II diabetes because of the health risks it poses. It is alleged by many lawsuits that two studies were conducted in 2005 showing that Actos led to an increased risk of bladder cancer, but that the results were not reported because of the large revenues the manufacturer was reaping.

Two studies were conducted in 2005 showing that Actos led to an increased risk of bladder cancer.

In June, the FDA announced a possible link between prescription drug Actos and bladder cancer. After an analysis of the first half of an ongoing 10-year study, results showed that patients with the longest exposure to Actos and those taking the highest doses of the drug had an increased risk of developing bladder cancer. The FDA’s announcement will require manufacturers of pioglitazone-containing medicines to add information about the potential cancer risks to the “Warnings and Precautions” sections of the drug’s label. While the FDA has not halted use of the drug, both France and Germany suspended Actos sales based on studies conducted in Europe and the FDA and EMA have both considered a recall but have not enacted one.

Actos was first introduced as a prescription drug treatment for diabetes in 1999, and has been very popular since. In 2007, the manufacturer Takeda Pharmaceuticals earned around $4 billion from Actos and in 2008 earned more than $2.5 billion.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with bladder cancer after or while taking the prescription drug Actos, you may be entitled to legal recourse. Contact a dedicated Actos bladder cancer attorney to see if you may be eligible to receive compensation by completing the form on the right. Experienced Actos attorneys can fight tirelessly to ensure that you receive the justice you deserve.