Whistleblower Lawsuit Filed Against Takeda Over Actos

A recent whistleblower lawsuit filed against Takeda Pharmaceuticals has inflicted even more damage against the lawsuit-plagued Actos manufacturers. According to reports, Dr. Helen Ge, a former Takeda consultant, has alleged that the pharmaceutical company consistently downplayed Actos related heart failure cases in order to make the drug look more appealing. Dr. Ge’s revelation comes less than a year after the FDA announced that patients who have taken Actos for over a year may be at a higher risk of bladder cancer.

On June 15, 2011, the FDA released a report stating that patients who used Actos for over a year may have a heightened chance of developing bladder cancer.

If true, Dr. Ge’s accusations could prove costly for Takeda, as they will add legitimacy to the lawsuits already filed. Dr. Ge claims that Takeda failed to report adverse event data linking the drug to bladder cancer. The lawsuit alleges that Actos “is not as safe as Takeda has led the FDA, healthcare professionals and the general public to believe. Rather, the FDA and the public were led to believe that Actos is safer because Takeda failed to properly report all of the Actos-related adverse events to the FDA." Dr. Ge claims that Takeda was aware of a relationship between Actos and bladder cancer as far back as the 90s after several test animals turned up with bladder cancer. Additionally, Dr. Ge has stated that Takeda attempted to convince medical reviewers to change their professional opinions about the potential pitfalls of Actos.

On June 15, 2011, the FDA released a report stating that patients who used Actos for over a year may have a heightened chance of developing bladder cancer. The FDA study found that patients who had been taking Actos the longest had a 40% increased risk of bladder cancer. Additionally, the FDA report cited a report by the French National Health Insurance Plan that claimed that patients who had taken a cumulative dose exceeding 28,000 milligrams had a 75% increased risk. Immediately following the FDA report, several lawsuits were filed and then consolidated into a multi-district litigation against Takeda Pharmaceuticals.

As a result of Takeda’s alleged failure to properly inform their patients about the risks of Actos, patients who were diagnosed with bladder cancer may be entitled to compensation. Filing a claim against Takeda would allow victims to seek compensation for any medical bills accrued, pain and suffering, and any other damages resulting from the disease. If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with bladder cancer after taking Actos, ActoPlus Met, ActoPlus Met XR or Duetact, fill out the form on the right for a free, no-obligation review of your claim.