Does Actos Cause Bladder Cancer?

On June 15, 2011 the FDA informed the public that use of Actos for more than one year may be associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer.

In June 2011, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) was informed by the French Medicines Agency of its decision to suspend the use of pioglitazone-containing medicines (Actos) in France, while awaiting the outcome of the ongoing European review on the benefits and risks of prescription drugs for diabetics.

Prompted by an increased number of spontaneous reports of bladder cancer, the EMA considered that the accumulated evidence provided also by preclinical studies, epidemiological data and a placebo controlled clinical trial, represents a clinically relevant signal which requires further evaluation.

This decision by the French authority follows receipt of results of a retrospective cohort study carried out in France which became available on this date. These results appear to suggest an increased risk of bladder cancer with Actos.
         
Also in June 2011 results were published regarding the association of Actos use and bladder cancer through the publication, Diabetes Care.

Ninety-three reports of bladder cancer were retrieved, corresponding to 138 drug-reaction pairs, with 31 concerning Actos. When reporting by age 10 cases occurred during clinical studies. Do you suffer from bladder cancer after taking Actos?

On June 15, 2011 the FDA informed the public that use of Actos for more than one year may be associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer.