Takeda Successful in Actos Case, Appeal Expected

Earlier this month, a jury decided that Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. was not responsible for the bladder cancer death of an Illinois man who took its diabetes drug, Actos.

According to Bloomberg News, the trial was the first in the state out of more than 3,000 against the manufacturer. The defense verdict comes only a month after a jury in Louisiana ordered Takeda to pay $9 billion in damages in a federal trial over similar claims.

More than 10,000 lawsuits have been filed nationwide alleging Actos caused bladder cancer. Currently, a trial is ongoing in Nevada, where two women are seeking more than $1 billion in damages following bladder cancer diagnoses.

According to Bloomberg News, the Illinois case involved Diane Whitlatch, whose husband died in 2006. She claimed that Takeda failed to warn of cancer risks associated with use of the drug.

Defense attorneys for Takeda claim Mr. Whitlatch was a former smoker and a diabetic, and that those factors increased his likelihood of developing cancer. Attorneys for Mr. Whitlatch’s estate said they plan to appeal the ruling.

Can I Sue If I Developed Bladder Cancer After Taking Takeda?

It was not until 2011 that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said using Actos for more than one year might be associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer.

Our experienced medical drug and device attorneys are actively involved in the Actos MDL litigation. Contact us by phone or by submitting the free case evaluation form below.

Zoll, Kranz & Borgess, LLC – Actos attorneys

Source: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-05-15/takeda-jury-says-company-not-liable-for-cancer-death.html