In June 2011, the FDA warned the public that Actos usage for more than one year may be associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer. Actos, manufactured by Takeda, is in a class of insulin-sensitizing drugs known as thiazolidinediones and was approved to treat Type 2 diabetes. Since gaining FDA approval in July 1999, Actos has been included in the top ten best selling medications in the United States in various years. The FDA has indicated that approximately 2.3 million prescriptions were filled from January 2010 to October 2010 alone.

In December 2011, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation met to decide whether to consolidate in one court all Actos cases filed in federal courts across the country. On December 29, 2011, the Panel decided that consolidation would promote the just and efficient administration of the cases and assigned the consolidated litigation to Judge Rebecca F. Doherty in the Western District of Louisiana. The first status conference will be held by the Court on the 22nd of this month.

In addition to the Actos MDL, litigation is pending in state courts across the country as well. On January 4, 2012, Actos cases filed in California state courts were consolidated by the Los Angeles Superior Court. We anticipate a trial judge to be appointed very soon from the Complex Litigation Panel of the Los Angeles Superior Court.

Numerous cases have also been filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Ill. The corporate headquarters of Takeda Pharmaceuticals is located in Illinois. The litigation in Illinois has been assigned to Judge Deborah Dooling. The second status conference was held on February 23, 2012.

Lawyers in our firm are currently investigating claims involving bladder cancer and usage of Actos, Actoplus Met, Actoplus Met XR, and/or Duetact. If you have any questions or would like for us to review potential claims, contact Roger Smith, a lawyer in our Mass Torts Section, at 800-898-2034 or by email at Roger.Smith@beasleyallen.com.