Actos Bladder Cancer Lawsuits Help: Resource4thePeople Reports Number of Consolidated Federal Cases Climbs to over 2,500

San Diego, Ca (PRWEB) September 02, 2013

http://www.resource4thepeople.com/defectivedrugs/Actos-Bladder-Cancer-Lawsuit.html

Resource4thePeople announced today its latest update for consumers interested in current legal information involving allegations that the use of the diabetes drug Actos (pioglitazone) may cause patients to develop bladder cancer.

There have been significant developments in the progress of federal lawsuits* from across the country that have been consolidated before a Louisiana judge involving common allegations of links between Actos and bladder cancer.

The number of cases in this multidistrict litigation has now increased to 2,514, according to the latest figures provided by federal court officials.** The statistics provided by the U.S. District Panel for Multidistrict Litigation as of Aug. 15 shows that the number of cases before the judge has nearly doubled since the last figures were released.

“This is a huge increase in the number of lawsuits that are being filed over allegations that Actos patients have suffered bladder cancer from their use of the drug and should be entitled to compensation for their medical costs and other expenses,” said Resource4thePeople.

“Our national network of attorneys is reporting that they are receiving proportionately increasing numbers of consumer inquiries over these allegations and are committed to continuing a policy of providing free consultations to consumers interested in determining what legal rights they may have over alleged Actos side effects.”

The judge overseeing the litigation also has scheduled a key hearing in the litigation, summoning attorneys representing the plaintiffs and those representing the manufacturers of Actos, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, to a Sept. 26, 2013 hearing for a briefing on the status of the lawsuits.

"It will be interesting to learn what issues have arising in the wake of this huge increase of lawsuits and what orders the judge will issue in the future,” said Resource4thePeople.

“In the meantime our attorneys will continue to be available to review consumer inquiries and review additional claims from consumers who were affected by similar bladder cancer allegations involving the use of Actos.”

The September status conference was scheduled by U.S. District Judge Rebecca F. Doherty in the Western District of Louisiana. Doherty was chosen by a national federal panel of judges to oversee pre-trial evidence-gathering and legal procedures in the litigation and possibly eventually decide whether to grant the litigation class-action status.

“We will continue to monitor these proceedings and report the status of the litigation to consumers who may have been affected by the alleged side effects that are central to these lawsuits,” said Resource4thePeople.

Resource4thePeople also is reporting that more Actos lawsuits involving allegations that the type 2 diabetes drug can cause bladder cancer are continuing to be filed across the country.

Among the most recent were 14 Actos lawsuits*** filed in Wayne County Circuit Court in West Virginia alleging that the use of the medication caused the plaintiffs to develop bladder cancer.

There has also been another important development in connection with allegations that Actos may be linked to life-threatening bladder cancer: India has now banned the sale of the medication out of concerns for consumer safety.

Resource4thePeople reports that the ban on Actos, manufactured by Asian pharmaceutical giant Takeda was detailed**** in the June 27, 2013 edition of The Times of India, the national newspaper, which wrote:

“In the case of pioglitazone too, France has already taken it off the shelves, while in the US it is sold with a boxed warning. The warning emphasizes that it may cause or worsen heart failure, and its use for over a year may be associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer.”

The Times report said that the government also banned sales of the pain-killer analgin and anti-depressant deanxit “in the wake of health risks associated with them.”

The Times said the ministry of health and family welfare has suspended the manufacture and sale of all three drugs under Section 26A of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 with immediate effect, through a notification issued on June 18.

Concerns about Actos were raised by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on June 15, 2011 after the agency staff reviewed a Takeda-sponsored study which documented an increased risk of developing bladder cancer with Actos than other diabetes drugs.****

Here is part of the safety announcement:

“The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is informing the public that use of the diabetes medication Actos (pioglitazone) for more than one year may be associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer. Information about this risk will be added to the Warnings and Precautions section of the label for pioglitazone-containing medicines. The patient Medication Guide for these medicines will also be revised to include information on the risk of bladder cancer.”

Resource4thePeople is also responding to consumer inquiries by making them aware that Actos also has been banned in Germany but has not been recalled so far in the United States, where the FDA has chosen to issue a health warning.

Sources:
*In Re: Actos (Pioglitazone) Products Liability Litigation, MDL2299 U.S. District Court, Western District of Louisiana
**http://www.jpml.uscourts.gov/sites/jpml/files/Pending_MDL-Dockets_By_District-August-15-2013.pdf
*** Richard M. Douglas Sr. et al. vs. Takeda Pharmaceuticals, Case Numbers 13-C-111, 13-C-112, 13-C-113, 13-C-114, 13-C-115, 13-C-116, 13-C-117, 13-C-118, 13-C-119, 13-C-120, 13-C-121, 13-C-122, 13-C-123, 13-C-124, Wayne County Circuit Court, West Virginia, Judge James H. Young Jr.
**** http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-06-27/india/40232041_1_flupenthixol-and-melitracen-novalgin-analgin
***** http://www.fda.gov/drugs/drugsafety/ucm259150.htm