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Australian Prescriber warns doctors of Actos bladder cancer risk
The Australian Prescriber, an independent journal maintained by Australia’s National Prescribing Service (NPS), has issued a warning about the link between Actos and bladder cancer.
The October 2011 issue of the drug and therapeutics journal warns doctors and pharmacists about recent studies on pioglitazones (the generic name for the diabetes drug Actos), which have revealed that diabetics who took Actos for more than a year were around 40 percent more likely to develop bladder cancer.
The studies described by the piece have caused consternation in every country where Actos is prescribed. This July, the results prompted officials in France and Germany to ban Actos. Days later, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a similar warning, cautioning doctors to rethink prescribing the drug, especially to patients with a history of bladder cancer.
Takeda Pharmaceuticals, the manufacturer of Actos, will be required to redouble the warnings they currently include with Actos packaging. And while the drug will remain on the market in the U.S. and Australia, medical providers in both nations have been put on alert to the dangerous association between Actos and bladder cancer.
The Australian Prescriber is an independent review that reports on pharmaceutical issues is Australia. It is published bimonthly by the Australian NPS, an independent, non-profit organization that provides information and resources for health professionals and consumers.
The Prescriber’s recent alert comes in the wake of a recent flurry of publicity surrounding the newfound dangers of one of the most popular diabetes drugs of the last decade. Actos is used to treat type 2 diabetes by increasing cellular sensitivity to insulin. But recent clinical studies revealed the link between long-term use of Actos and bladder cancer.
The study found that the hazard ratio (a measure of risk) for Actos users was 1.2 overall, increasing to 1.4 for patients who had been taking Actos for at least two years. These results are a statistically significant indicator that Actos contributes to the initiation, promotion, or progression of bladder cancer.
Persons who have been prescribed Actos to treat diabetes and developed bladder cancer have the right to pursue legal options.
Weitz & Luxenberg is currently investigating cases of personal injury related to Actos. For a free consultation, please fill out the form on this page and a representative will contact you.
see also:
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Actos Bladder Cancer
Actos Bladder Cancer and Actos Recall, Litigation, Lawyer and Lawsuits.A recent FDA warning implies that diabetes drug Actos could be related to instances of actos bladder cancer. Visit Weitz & Luxenberg to learn more.
