Diabetes Drug Actos- Frequently Asked Questions

Diabetes Drug Actos Questions

What is Actos?

Actos is a prescription drug that is primarily prescribed to patients who have type- 2 diabetes. It is used to regulate the amount of insulin in the body. Usually, Actos is prescribed to lower the amount of glucose present in the blood.

What forms of Actos are there?

There are several forms of Actos prescribed, including Actos, Actosplus met, and Actosplus met xr.

What are some of the problems with Actos?

Actos has a black box warning, the FDA’s highest warning for a drug that is still allowed on the market, for its increased risk of heart attack. However, new studies are linking it to an increased risk of developing Bladder Cancer.

Has Actos been pulled from the market?

Actos is still available for purchase in the United States but in France and Germany it has been taken off the market. A French study looked at over one million patients and concluded that patients taking Actos were put at a 22% higher risk for developing bladder cancer over those who had not taken the drug. Another study that was reviewed by the FDA, indicated up to a 40% increased risk of developing bladder cancer as a result of taking Actos.

Who is most at risk for developing bladder cancer while taking Actos?

The chance of developing bladder cancer with Actos use increases the longer a patient has been taking it. Those who have the higher cumulative doses are more at risk. The more Actos that a person has ingested, the greater the risk of developing bladder cancer.

What steps has the FDA taken?

In September 2010, the Food and Drug Administration announced that they were reviewing preliminary safety information on Actos. The FDA has continued to monitor studies performed by the manufacturer of Actos and ones performed in Europe. Then, in June 2011, the FDA issued an “urgent health warning” relating to the bladder cancer risk of Actos. The FDA approved new labeling on Actos to include the Bladder Cancer risk. They will continue to monitor studies and new information. Actos remains on the market in the U.S. although it has already been pulled in some European countries.

What legal options do I have if I developed Bladder Cancer after taking Actos?

After you have begun treatment for bladder cancer, it is important to contact an Actos lawyer to protect your legal rights. An Actos lawyer can evaluate your case against the manufacturers of Actos and determine the best way to proceed forward in the legal system. By contacting a lawyer, your rights will be protected. If a firm accepts your case, they will review your medical records and begin a lawsuit on your behalf.

Actos-Bladder Cancer cases are becoming prevalent, New York Attorney reports

The diabetes drug Actos may be linked to Bladder Cancer. While the FDA’s highest warning appears on Actos for its heart attack risk, no such warning appears for Bladder Cancer. Research has shown that taking Actos for more than 1 year may increase a patient’s chance for developing Bladder Cancer by up to 40%. With over 2 million people prescribed Actos, the law firm of Rudolph F.X. Migliore, P.C. has seen a number of inquiries related to Actos litigation. Actos is used to regulate the level of glucose in the bloodstream in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Diabetes is a prevalent disease in the United States and Actos use has steadily increased, especially after a similar prescription drug, Avandia, was pulled off the market because it was linked to an increased risk for heart attacks. The relationship of Actos to bladder cancer has only recently been examined and consequences are being monitored by the FDA. In August 2011, the FDA approved updated labeling for Actos stating that taking the drug “for more than one year may be associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer”. The FDA has been conducting an ongoing review of the connection between Actos (pioglitazone) and Bladder Cancer based on studies conducted over the last 10 years by the drugs’ manufacturers, as well as studies done in Europe which suggested an increased risk from using Actos (pioglitazone) and developing Bladder Cancer.

As this potential link has become more prevalent, the law firm of Rudolph F.X. Migliore, P.C. has been hearing from patients that have been taking Actos for an extended period of time and have developed bladder cancer. The firm initially started investigating case related to Actos and Bladder Cancer from throughout the United States in July 2011 and is continuing to accept cases.

With over three decades of experience, the law firm of Rudolph F.X. Migliore, P.C. is well positioned to help victims of Actos related Bladder Cancer. The firm works with nationally recognized co-council to provide powerful representation for their clients, while providing them with personalized service. If you or a loved one has been harmed while taking Actos, call Rudolph F.X. Migliore, P.C. at 631-543-3663 or visit Migliorelaw.com .

Bladder Cancer Information

Bladder cancer is a form of cancer that usually begins when cells that line the bladder develop tumorous growths. It is a common cancer, although there is little awareness of it, with close to 70,000 diagnoses and 15,000 deaths expected from it this year alone (1). Men are much more likely to develop the disease than women are. The cancerous cells begin to grow rapidly and spread to other parts of the bladder, forming a region of abnormal tumorous cells. These abnormal cells do not expand normally but instead expand rapidly and at much greater speed than normal cells. These tumors can overtake healthy cells because they block oxygen and inhibit their ability to receive the nutrients and material they need.
Bladder cancer cells can undergo Metastatis, meaning that the cancer spreads to other parts of the body than where it originated. In this case, bladder cancer often transfers from the bladder to the lymph nodes and kidneys before spreading to the blood stream where other vital organs, like the heart and lungs, are likely to be affected.

Like with most cancers, bladder cancer is diagnosed as being in one of five main stages. Stage 0 (pre-stage) is when the cancer is in the center of the bladder but has not yet reached the connective tissue or the muscle wall. Spreading has not yet begun. Stage 1 indicates that the cancer has reached the connective tissue but has not penetrated the muscle of the bladder wall. In Stage 2, the cancer has grown into the muscle layer of the bladder wall and the fatty tissue around the bladder. Stage 3 is characterized by cancer that has completely penetrated the fatty tissue of the bladder and possibly the surrounding organs, but has not yet made contact with the lymph nodes or areas that are farther away. In Stage 4, the cancer has either gone through the pelvic or abdominal wall, spread to the lymph nodes or reached a distant site such as the bones, liver or lungs.

Treatment options vary by stage. Surgery may be done to remove the cancer or tumor. This sometimes involves directly removing the cancer or removing the entire or part of the bladder and any affected lymph nodes and organs. Radiation is another common treatment method that involves using high energy x-rays to kill or contain the cancer cells. Chemotherapy uses powerful drugs to combat cancer, sometimes given throughout the body or directly applied to the bladder. Other approaches include strengthening the body’s natural immune system to help it fight the cancer off itself. A number of clinical trials are also being performed to develop new methods to combat this vicious disease.

Bladder Cancer Risk Factors

There is no one complete determination of what causes bladder cancer or what increases ones risk factors. It is, however, well established that cigarette smoking makes a person more likely to contract the disease. Smoking is a major risk factor for bladder cancer. Workplace exposure is another risk factor that includes exposure to dangerous chemicals. Some chemicals have been linked to bladder cancer. Different ethnicities are also more pre-disposed to developing bladder cancer and age can be a major factor, with 90% of bladder cancer patients over the age of 55. Men are also at a much higher risk for bladder cancer than women.

Some new reports have indicated that the diabetes drug ACTOS may also increase the chances of developing bladder cancer, with some sample sizing showing as much as a 40% increase. The drug has already been pulled from the market in several European countries. The Law firm of Rudolph F.X. Migliore, P.C. is investigating ACTOS cases in the United States. For more information see our ACTOS page or Contact us at 631-543-3663.

If you are taking ACTOS, talk to your doctor about proper dosing and the potential dangers. If you or a loved one has been harmed due to ACTOS do not hesitate to contact our firm today at 631-543-3663 for a free consultation. You may be entitled to compensation. With over three decades of experience, the law firm of Rudolph F.X. Migliore, P.C. is well positioned to help those harmed by Actos. The firm works with nationally recognized co-counsel to reach major verdicts.

(1) http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/bladder