The makers of the diabetes drug Actos are facing new concerns over kidney disease, even as they fight claims that the drug causes bladder cancer — including being ordered to pay a $9 billion settlement to an Actos bladder cancer victim on April 7.

Actos (Pioglitazone) is a drug designed to help control diabetes. However, research suggests it increases a patients’ risk of developing bladder cancer. This has been the subject of over 6,000 Actos lawsuits pending in multidistrict litigation in Louisiana, where the $9 billion Actos cancer settlement was awarded. Now the manufacturer of the drug, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, is facing new claims about potentially dangerous Actos side effects.

A new study published in the peer-reviewed journal PLoS One by researchers based out of Taiwan looked at 34,970 subjects’ medical data found in a national insurance database. According to their statistical analysis, subjects who took Actos were three times more likely to be diagnosed with newly developed chronic kidney disease.

Previous studies have found a similar link between the risk of developing bladder cancer and long-term Actos use. When the FDA first approved Actos in 1999, they required the drug’s manufacturers to conduct a 10-year study on the possible risk of Actos bladder cancer. Mounting evidence of a link led to the FDA mandating changes to the drug’s labeling advising patients of these potential Actos side effects in 2011.

Actos Bladder Cancer Lawsuits

At present, the makers of Actos are facing thousands of product liability lawsuits filed by victims of bladder cancer and their family members who accuse drug maker Takeda Pharmaceuticals of concealing the risk of getting cancer from Actos. The lawsuits are consolidated into an MDL, which is similar to an Actos class action lawsuit. Unlike an Actos class action lawsuit, however, the cases in the Actos MDL are filed individually and each plaintiff will secure their own settlement, if awarded, as damages for their injuries.

The Actos MDL is In Re: Actos (Pioglitazone) Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2299, filed in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana.

If you or a loved one took Actos and went on to develop bladder cancer, you’ve almost certainly been through a trying ordeal. When facing life-threatening illness like bladder cancer, many people feel overwhelmed and lapse into depression.

But you need to remember that regardless of the challenges you are facing, you still have rights, and there are steps that you can take to regain a measure of control over your situation. You can start by receiving a free case evaluation to see if you qualify to pursue compensation for your injuries. Obtain one now by submitting your story to an Actos injury lawyer who will review your claim for free and contact you for a free and confidential legal consultation if you have a case.