Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America has come out in support of ACTOS, its type 2 diabetes treatment, after the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) once again released a warning over its potential bladder cancer risk.
The FDA has told the public that the use of the diabetes medication ACTOS (pioglitazone) for more than one year may be associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer.
Takeda has consistently emphasised the importance of physician education and patient safety in communications involving ACTOS and have pointed to ongoing trials which the company believes prove the drugs safety.
According to Takeda, results from a ten-year epidemiological study currently being conducted in collaboration with appropriate regulatory agencies has already provided interim analysis showing that ACTOS is not associated with a statistically significant increase in the incidence of bladder cancer.
Shares in Japan’s Takeda Pharmaceutical Company shares fell after the warning from the US regulator, which followed the suspension of sales in France and Germany due to similar fears.
