Wisconsin family sues company over diabetes drug
Actos, a type 2 diabetes medication that was approved in 1999, is created by Takeda Pharmaceuticals, Inc., which is currently being sued by the family of a man from Wisconsin who recently passed away due to cancer that the plaintiff claims he obtained from a long-term use of the drug.
"The suit alleges that use of the drug caused extensive pain and suffering, severe emotional distress, and substantially reduced the Decedent's ability to enjoy life," wrote Parker Waichman, the law firm representing the plaintiff, in a press release.
The deceased began taking Actos in 2004 and developed bladder cancer five years later. The deceased passed away in October 2010, alleging that it was due to the long running use of Actos.
The lawsuit is also alleging that Takeda Pharmaceutical failed to warn that Actos may cause bladder cancer, although last summer the United States Food and Drug Administration required that the company update its warning label to state that Actos can increase the risk of contracting the disease.
In addition, the release cited many studies that tie Actos to an increased risk of bladder cancer. For example, the Canadian Medical Association Journal stated that patients who take Actos become 22 percent more likely contract the disease.
During a major lawsuit such as this one, it may benefit lawyers and judges involved in the case to acquire the most accurate deposition transcripts, which increases the importance of partnering with realtime court reporters. Furthermore, as the pharmaceutical company may not be in the same state as the plaintiff, lawyers can also benefit from partnering with Wisconsin court reporters that offer video deposition services.
