Actos drug litigation, Wisconsin products liability attorneyAfter being ordered to pay over $3 million dollars in damages for its diabetes drug, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company will be facing more time in court, and this time the company will have to appear in Wisconsin. Japanese pharmaceutical giant, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company, was ordered by a Philadelphia jury to pay $2.3 million in compensatory damages and $1.3 million in punitive damages to a former teacher, Mr. Kristufek. Kristufek claimed the company's defective diabetes drug, Actos, caused his bladder cancer.

What is Actos? 

Actos was once Takeda's top selling drug and it was used to treat diabetes. Actos has generated more than $16 billion in sales since its market release in 1999. However, the company now faces more than 4, 500 federal and state court cases involving individuals who had been prescribed Actos who are now suffering serious medical conditions.

In 2011, the FDA released a safety announcement stating that there was an increased risk of bladder cancer among the patients with the longest exposure, as well as in those exposed to the highest cumulative dosage. The agency recommended that the drug not be given to patients already diagnosed with bladder cancer or with a history of bladder cancer.

Kristufek and other former users of Actos claim the company downplayed or ignored the cancer-causing side effects of Actos as far back as 1999. Allegations include that Takeda went so far as to mislead the FDA about Actos' health risks. A Pennsylvania jury in the most recent trial found the company showed reckless indifference by hiding the known risks, which led the jury to award punitive damages.

Takeda has suffered recent losses in Actos cases in California and Maryland for a combined $8.2 million in damages. In addition to the recent jury award in favor of Kristufek, Takeda also paid more than $2 million to another plaintiff in Philadelphia. In the spring of 2014, a federal judge ordered the company and its U.S. partner, Eli Lilly, to pay more than $9 billion in damages because the court found that the company hid the drug's cancer risks. Takeda's next trial is in March in Wisconsin.

Products Liability Law 

Fighting back against the dangerous drugs that pharmaceutical companies manufacture and sell to consumers is done through product liability lawsuits. These types of lawsuits identify how and when companies negligently or recklessly designed, produced, or marketed a drug.

If you or a loved one has been hurt by a dangerous drug or product, it is important to consult an experienced attorney. These are complicated cases, and you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries, medical costs, and pain and suffering.

Contact an Experienced Wisconsin Products Liability Attorney

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured by a dangerous drug or product, contact one of our Green Bay products liability attorneys or Appleton products liability attorneys at [[title]] We have offices located in Green Bay, Appleton, and Oshkosh, and we are happy to provide you with a free initial consultation to discuss your potential case.