When the FDA found that the Takeda Pharmaceutical drug Actos might actually increase the risk of bladder cancer, the lawsuits were inevitable. Now, lawyers tell Bloomberg that the Japanese drugmaker may end up fighting as many as 10,000 claims in U.S. courts. To prepare for the onslaught, some U.S. judges are considering where to consolidate the legal battles.
As Bloomberg reports, plaintiffs' attorney Paul Pennock was due to appear in Savannah, GA, court today to argue for consolidation in Louisiana or Ohio. Pennock represents 1,200 Actos patients and expects to add many more. "We are getting calls every day about Actos," he told the news service.
Takeda spokesman Mitsuo Oguri told the news service that the company has already revised U.S. and Japanese patient-information materials to include risk data on bladder cancer. It's in the process of updating patient leaflets in Europe, the spokesman said, adding, "Takeda remains confident on the efficacy of pioglitazone for treating type 2 diabetes, while it continues to monitor the safety profile of the medicine."
- see the Bloomberg story
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