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Actos Bladder Cancer Lawsuit Filed by Multiple Plaintiffs

open bottle with spilled Actos pills

Twelve plaintiffs have filed lawsuits against Takeda Pharmaceuticals, claiming the drug caused their spouse or themselves to develop bladder cancer. Each Actos lawsuit will be added to the ongoing multidistrict litigation in the Western District of Louisiana.

Actos is an oral diabetes medication used to control blood sugar levels in people with Type II diabetes. Also known as pioglitazone, the drug is typically taken once per day and used in conjunction with proper diet and exercise to manage the disease. Approximately 2.3 million people filled a prescription for the drug from January 2010 to October 2010.

On June 15, 2011, the FDA issued a warning that the use of Actos for more than one year may be linked with an increased risk of developing bladder cancer.

Actos bladder cancer lawsuits

The plaintiffs have similar stories about taking the prescription medicine to control Type II diabetes, which inadvertently caused them to develop bladder cancer.

  1. Statesville, North Carolina woman, Beverly Luke’s husband, Jerry Richard Luke took Actos as prescribed from 2005 to 2014. Her lawsuit claims he was diagnosed with Actos bladder cancer in March 2014 as a result of ingesting the drug, which ultimately led to his untimely death on May 18, 2014.
  2. Similarly, Verona, Wisconsin resident, Jean M. Kreul’s late husband took Actos from 2009 to 2012. Thomas J. Kreul was diagnosed with bladder cancer in August 2010, with recurrences diagnosed in or around February 2011 and May 2011. He passed away on March 1, 2012. She also claims Actos is to blame for her husband’s death.
  3. Norma Faye Masterson has also filed a lawsuit on behalf of her late husband, Lindsay Albert Masterson, Jr. The Oviedo, Florida resident took the drug from 2007 to 2011. The lawsuit claims he developed Actos as a result of his used of the drug and was diagnosed in February 2011. He died shortly after, on April 2, 2011.
  4. Plaintiff Cindy A. Ramey’s lawsuit claims the drug is to blame for the death of her husband, Michael Eric Ramey. The Baltimore, Maryland man ingested Actos from 2006 to 2008. He was diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2009, with a recurrence in February 2012. The disease ultimately took his life on May 11, 2013.
  5. Linda Sue Brooks took Actos from 2004 to 2012. The Norcross, Georgia woman was diagnosed with bladder cancer in September 2013.
  6. Plaintiff Nicola Camplese took the drug from 2000 to 2010. Consequently, she was diagnosed with bladder cancer in January 2005, with a recurrence in April 2005.
  7. Dale and Jean Clark claim the drug caused Dale to develop bladder cancer. The Bristol, Georgia resident ingested the drug from 2001 to 2013 and was diagnosed with the disease in September 2013.
  8. Plaintiffs Everett and Ann Kenneway of Ellenton, Florida claim Actos caused Everett to develop bladder cancer. He took the drug from 2002 to 2011 and was diagnosed with the disease in July 2012, with a recurrence in December 2012.
  9. Stanley Koci, Sr. and his wife Velma claim the drug caused Stanley to develop bladder cancer. The Bedford, Ohio resident took Actos from 2009 to 2013. He was diagnosed with the disease in January 2013, with a recurrence in August 2013.
  10. Plaintiffs Darrell and Ann Littlejohn also allege the drug caused Darrell to develop the disease. The Union, South Carolina man took Actos from 2006 to 2012. He was diagnosed with bladder cancer in July 2012.
  11. Montgomery, Alabama residents William Stephen Moody and his wife Lucy note that William took the drug from 2006 to 2013. They claim this caused him to ultimately develop bladder cancer, with a July 2013 diagnosis.
  12. Finally, plaintiff Ramona Muscolino says she took Actos from 2008 to 2010. The Brooklyn, New York woman was diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2009.

Takeda accused of fraud & negligence

The plaintiffs level multiple causes of action against Takeda in their Actos lawsuit, including:

  • Design Defect
  • Breach of Express Warranty
  • Fraud and Fraudulent Concealment
  • Negligence
  • Failure to Warn
  • Loss of Consortium
  • Breach of Implied Warranties
  • Wrongful Death
  • Negligence Per Se
  • Violation of State Consumer Protection Laws
  1. U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, Beverly Luke vs. Takeda Pharmaceuticals http://www.lawd.uscourts.gov/
  2. Drugs.com, Actos http://www.drugs.com/actos.html
  3. U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA Drug Safety Communication: Update to Ongoing Safety Review of Actos (Pioglitazone) and Increased Risk of Bladder Cancer http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/ucm259150.htm