A United States federal jury has ordered the manufacturers of the diabetes drug Actos to pay a combined $9 billion in punitive damages for failing to disclose an increased risk of bladder cancer. Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. was ordered to pay $6 billion and Eli Lilly & Co. was ordered to pay $3 billion.
The case against the manufacturers of Actos was brought by a man who blamed Actos for causing his bladder cancer. It was alleged that executives from Takeda ignored the safety risks of the drug and misled or lied to regulators about those risks. Takeda may have also destroyed internal documents about the safety of Actos. The link between bladder cancer and Actos was first reported by researchers in 2004. Takeda would not acknowledge the link until 2011. Actos first entered the market in 1999.
The Louisiana jury found that Takeda and Lilly failed to properly warn regulators, doctors, and patients about the safety of Actos, including the increased risk of bladder cancer. They also found that the companies acted with reckless disregard for the safety of their patients, justifying punitive damages. The jury verdict will likely be appealed and the jury award will likely be reduced.
The jury verdict marks another successful litigation against Takeda and Eli Lilly for failing to warn patients prescribed Actos of the dangers associated with the drug. If you or a loved one has been harmed by any dangerous pharmaceutical drug, contact The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker today for a free consultation. We work with a nationally recognized team of trial attorneys dedicated to obtaining successful verdicts for our clients.
