Last week, India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare took steps to protect public safety by banning Actos, a diabetes medication that has come under widespread scrutiny for its adverse side effects. On July 5, the ministry followed up on a decision reached in June, effectively banning the manufacture and sale of Actos in India. The decision was said to be prompted by a standing committee’s statement on the ministry’s inefficacies in regulating dangerous medications and drugs.
Actos (pioglitazone) is a prescription medication used to treat patients with type 2 diabetes. It works by regulating and improving blood glucose levels in diabetic adults. While Actos was once the tenth best-selling medication in the U.S. in 2008, recent years have seen an increasing number of adverse health reports related to the drug. In response to such alarming reports, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) required Takeda Pharmaceuticals – the manufacturer of Actos – to update labels stating that Actos has been shown to increase the risk of developing bladder cancer in 2011.
Although Actos is still available to consumers throughout Europe and the United States, many healthcare officials have found strong links between the diabetes drug and bladder cancer. Other adverse side effects linked to bladder cancer and Actos include frequent and painful urination, blood in urine, urinary tract infection (UTI), and abdominal or lower back pain. In light of these discoveries, India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare stated that Actos is “likely to involve risk to human beings,” and should therefore be banded. The French Medical Agency had previously banned Actos in France in 2011.
If you or your loved one has suffered any type of adverse health reaction after taking Actos – including bladder cancer – allow our firm’s California defective drug lawyers to review your case and inform you about your eligibility to recover financial compensation for your damages. Bladder cancer can cause considerable pain and suffering and can potentially be fatal without early detection or intervention. If you have experienced any of the previously mentioned side effects, we urge you to seek medical attention. Additionally, we would like to make it clear that our firm is committed to providing victims injured by corporate misconduct with a bold and unwavering voice in the legal system. Learn more about the ways in which our firm can fight on your behalf to hold pharmaceutical companies liable for the harm they cause. Contact the Senators (Ret.) Firm, LLP today.