Four plaintiffs sue Takeda over Actos in St. Clair County

Four men are seeking nearly $2 million each after they claim they developed bladder cancer after taking medication to treat their type II diabetes.

John McLane, David Steele, Gene Warren and Raul Watkins allege they began taking Actos, which is manufactured by defendants Takeda Pharmaceuticals. At the time they took the medication, McLane, Steele, Warren and Watkins were unaware that those who took the prescription for more than 12 months faced an increased risk of developing bladder cancer, according to the complaints filed Oct. 18 in Madison County Circuit Court.

Takeda was aware of the increased risk of cancer associated with the drug, but failed to warn consumers of it, the suits state.

After they began taking the medication, McLane, Steele, Warren and Watkins were diagnosed with bladder cancer, according to the complaints. As a result, they suffered back and lower abdominal pain and discomfort, urgent and frequent needs to urinate, pain during urination, bowel problems, loss of appetite and weight loss, as well as other severe injuries, the suits state.

In their complaints, McLane, Steele, Warren and Watkins allege negligence, strict liability, negligent failure to warn, negligent design defect, negligence, breach of express warranty, breach of implied warranty, breach of implied warranty of merchantability and defective design.

McLane, Steele, Warren and Watkins each seek a judgment of more than $1.75 million, plus pre- and post-judgment interest, costs, attorneys’ fees, costs and other relief the court deems just.

John J. Driscoll of The Driscoll Firm in St. Louis will be representing them.

Madison County Circuit Court case number: 13-L-536, 13-L-537, 13-L-538, 13-L-539.