National Actos Bladder Cancer Attorneys
On July 3rd, the Canadian Medical Association Journal published findings that indicated a 22 percent increased risk of bladder cancer when using the drug.
(PRWEB) July 03, 2012
Parker Waichman LLP, a national law firm dedicated to protecting the rights of victims injured by defective drugs, is reporting that researchers have once again linked Actos to an increased risk of bladder cancer. On July 3rd, the Canadian Medical Association Journal published findings that indicated a 22 percent increased risk of bladder cancer when using the drug.
The research was conducted via meta-analysis, meaning that researchers pooled data from several other studies in order to find patterns among vast amounts of data. This particular meta-analysis, which looked at the relationship between thiazolidinediones and bladder cancer, analyzed data from 10 different studies and 2,657,365 patients. The combined data supports an overall association between the usage of Actos and an increased likelihood of bladder cancer. Out of the total number of participants, 3,643 were identified as having newly-diagnosed bladder cancer; this corresponds to an overall incidence of 53.1 cases per 100,000 person-years.
Jeffrey A. Johnson, who is a co-author and Canada Research Chair in Diabetes Health Outcomes at the University of Alberta School of Public Health said, "The evidence suggests that this drug is associated with about a 22 percent increased risk of bladder cancer," according to HealthDay. Johnson stated that there was 15 percent increased risk seen with thiazolidinedones as a whole, and a 22 percent increase risk for Actos alone.
Actos was approved in 1999 to treat patients with type 2 diabetes. It is part of a class of drugs known as thiazolidinediones, which includes medications such as Avandia. Patients with Type 2 diabetes suffer from inadequate insulin, which is necessary to break down sugar for energy. Thiazolidinediones work by increasing the body’s sensitivity to insulin.
In recent years, Actos has been repeatedly linked to bladder cancer. In fact, the use of the Actos was suspended in France and Germany last summer after data from the French Medicines Agency confirmed this risk. Days later, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that using Actos for more than a year increased the likelihood of bladder cancer by 40 percent compared to patients who have never been exposed to the drug. The label was updated to warn users about these risks.
In April, Health Canada also updated the label on Actos to address the drug’s link to bladder cancer.
Most recently, a study published in late May in the British Medical Journal found that the risk of bladder cancer doubled in patients who take the drug for at least two years.
Parker Waichman LLP continues to offer free legal consultations to victims of Actos. If you or a loved one were diagnosed with bladder cancer after taking Actos, please contact their office by visiting the firm's Actos injury page at yourlawyer.com. Free case evaluations are also available by calling 1 800 LAW INFO (1-800-529-4636).
For more information regarding Actos side effect lawsuits and Parker Waichman LLP, please visit yourlawyer.com or call 1-800-LAW-INFO (1-800-529-4636).]
Contact:
Parker Waichman LLP
Gary Falkowitz, Managing Attorney
(800) LAW-INFO
(800) 529-4636
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