A jury ordered Takeda Pharmaceuticals to pay $6 billion and Eli Lilly & Co. to pay $3 billion in punitive damages, in a case of bladder cancer risks associated with the Type 2 Diabetes drug Actos. Our firm is excited for this monumental award as we are pursuing similar claims for injured New York plaintiffs.
Takeda Pharmaceuticals manufactured the drug and Eli Lilly & Co. was responsible for marketing it in the United States and Canada. The $9 billion jury award is the seventh largest in U.S history over drug manufacturer’s mishandling.
Additionally, plaintiff Terrence Allen, a man from New York State, was awarded $1.5 million for compensatory damages. As a marketing agreement, Takeda will indemnify Lilly against losses and expenses involving Actos.
The high penalty on these pharmaceutical industries is a step towards pushing these companies to take appropriate steps towards warning its users about the potential risks of the drugs. However, it is important to note that this would not be the first time these companies have been involved in such cases. Product liability lawsuits remain a constant problem for Takeda pharmaceuticals as it has repeatedly failed to disclose relevant information to its consumers about the potential risk of bladder cancer associated with drugs like Actos. Over 3,000 suits have been brought against the drug manufacturer.
In spite of settlements and lawsuits, drug companies like Takeda Pharmaceuticals have continued to be involved in putting patients at risk by ignoring and downplaying the risks associated with these drugs. Pharmaceutical companies like Takeda must be held accountable for their actions and the issue of prioritizing sales over patient health must be addressed in order to increase transparency and avoid health risks associated with drugs such as Actos.
