In 2012, an article by L. Azoulay et al. titled “The use of pioglitazone and the risk of bladder cancer in people with type 2 diabetes: nested case-control study.” aimed to “determine if the use of pioglitazone is associated with an increased risk of incident bladder cancer in people with type 2 diabetes.”  (“Pioglitazone” is the chemical name for Actos.)

According to this research team, “The cohort consisted of people with type 2 diabetes who were newly treated with oral hypoglycaemic agents between 1 January 1988 and 31 December 2009. All incident cases of bladder cancer occurring during follow-up were identified and matched to up to 20 controls on year of birth, year of cohort entry, sex, and duration of follow-up” and “exposure was defined as ever use of pioglitazone, along with measures of duration and cumulative dosage.”

Overall, the participants in this study included “115,727 new users of oral hypoglycaemic agents, with 470 patients diagnosed as having bladder cancer during follow-up” and, “The 376 cases of bladder cancer that were diagnosed beyond one year of follow-up were matched to 6699 controls.”

This team found that patients ever using Actos resulted in an 83% increased risk for bladder cancer.  And, if patients used Actos for more than two years, the risk for bladder cancer increased to 99% higher than that for non-users.  If patients used more than 28,000mg of Actos in the course of treatment, the risk for bladder cancer was 254% higher than that for non-users.

Sadly, the manufacturer of Actos failed time and again to adequately inform users of the risk for bladder cancer associated with this product, and as a result, a number of Actos lawsuits have been filed.  If you or a loved one used Actos and suffered bladder cancer as a result, you too may be entitled to significant financial compensation for your undue injury.  For a free, no-obligation case consultation, contact our team of Actos bladder cancer lawyers at the information provided below.  We have the experience, resources, and skills required to win the justice you deserve.

(855) 452 – 5529

justinian@dangerousdrugs.us