A Deerfield drug company that makes a diabetes medication is facing another lawsuit claiming it knowingly manufactured and distributed a drug that allegedly causes bladder cancer.
Harry Bryant, by and through his personal representative, Virginia Bryant, Rosie Eubanks, Gerald Jennings, Herbert Arney, Ronald Kreiss and James Dennis filed a lawsuit April 5 in St. Clair County Circuit Court against Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America Inc., Takeda Global Research & Development Center Inc., Takeda Pharmaceuticals LLC, Takeda San Diego Inc. and Takeda Pharmaceuticals International Inc.
Bryant and the other co-plaintiffs allege they were prescribed the diabetes drug Pioglitazone by their physicians. The drug is marketed and sold under the names Actos, Actoplus Met, Actoplus Met XR and Duetact, according to the complaint. Over time of taking the drug the plaintiffs allegedly developed medical problems with their bladder and urinary systems, including bladder cancer.
According to the complaint, Actos was designed, tested and distributed as a treatment for Type II diabetes. The group contends the makers knew the drug could cause serious bladder and urinary issues. They accuse the defendants of negligence, claiming they were deceptive in distributing a drug that could lead to life-threatening illness, failing to adequately monitor the long term effects of the drug and failing to warn its customers about the risk.
On March 22, the same defendants were sued on similar claims by plaintiffs Robert Evans, Luz Franco, Michael Marano, Fay Horton, Michael Matthews, Ronald Kreiss, James Dennis, Richard Marsh, Ellis Miller, Charles Williams, Lawrence Lancaster, Frank Raines, Billy Edwards, Barbara Humphreys and Phillip Adams.
In both cases, judgments of more than $1.75 million in damages for medical expenses and court costs are being sought by the plaintiffs.
They are represented by attorney John J. Driscoll of St. Louis.
Bryant: St. Clair County Circuit Court Case No. 13-L-184
Evans: St. Clair County Circuit Court Case No. 13-L-153
Takeda named in St. Clair County suits over Actos drugs
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