Takeda Pharmaceuticals is facing a growing number of lawsuits involving people who took the gout medication Uloric and suffered a heart attacks, stroke or death. Uloric has also been linked to renal failure and kidney disease.
Need a Texas Uloric Lawyer? Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged. If you or a loved one was diagnosed with a heart attack, stroke, or kidney failure after taking Uloric, you should contact our lawyers immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a lawsuit.
UPDATE: Uloric Lawsuit Filed by Man Who Suffered Heart Attack
In April 2020, a man from Tennessee who suffered a heart attack while taking Uloric® (Febuxostat) for gout filed a lawsuit against Takeda Pharmaceuticals. The lawsuit accuses Takeda of failing to warn him that Uloric increases his risk of heart attack compared to another gout medication called allopurinol.
The lawsuit (PDF) was filed on April 15, 2020 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois — Case No. 1:20-cv-02325.
Gout Medication Uloric Increases Risk Of Death
In February 2019, the FDA issued a warning that Uloric is associated with an increased risk of heart-related death compared to the gout drug allopurinol (Zyloprim and Aloprim). The FDA conclusion is based on a safety study that linked Uloric to heart attacks and strokes, as well as death from all other causes.
What is the Risk?
In November 2019, health officials in Canada issued a Safety Warning after a major clinical study (the CARES trial) found that 4.3% of patients on Uloric died of a heart attack or stroke.
FDA Adds Boxed Warning on Uloric
The FDA is placing the strongest warning label — a Boxed Warning — on the medication guide for Uloric to inform patients and doctors about the risk of death from Uloric. Furthermore, the FDA is limiting Uloric’s approved use to patients who are not treated effectively or experience severe side effects with allopurinol.
What Should I Do?
Patients with a history of heart problems or stroke should tell their healthcare professional. Seek emergency medical attention right away if you experience symptoms of a heart attack or stroke while taking Uloric.
Symptoms of a Heart Attack or Stroke
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Rapid or irregular heartbeat
- Numbness or weakness on one side of your body
- Dizziness
- Trouble talking
- Sudden severe headache
Uloric and Renal Failure
The body relies on the kidneys to remove Uloric from the bloodstream. Due to the potential risk of renal failure and worsening kidney problems, the drug-maker recommends that patients with severe kidney impairment should limit their dose of Uloric to 40-mg once-daily.
Study: Uloric Increases Kidney Damage Risk
In November 2019, a study linked Uloric with a significantly higher risk of kidney disease compared to other gout medications. Uloric was linked to a 5.7-fold higher risk of Acute Kidney Injury (AKI), which is a risk-factor for kidney failure. Overall, nearly 7% of Uloric patients died after developing an acute kidney injury, according to the researchers.
The study, “Acute kidney injury associated with febuxostat and allopurinol: a post-marketing study” was published in the journal Arthritis Research & Therapy in November 2019.
What is Uloric?
When the FDA approved Uloric (febuxostat) in February 2009, it was hailed as the first new gout drug in over 40 years. It works by inhibiting an enzyme called xanthine oxidase, which the body needs to create uric acid. This reduces uric acid levels, which treats painful joint inflammation in gout users.
Uloric Lawsuit Filed in Illinois
In November 2019, a woman from Illinois filed a Uloric lawsuit accusing Takeda Pharmaceuticals of failing to warn about the risk of severe cardiovascular side effects. She took Uloric for nearly 4 years before she needed emergency surgery due to severe chest pain, unstable angina, and coronary artery disease.
Her lawsuit claims that Takeda put profits over public safety by failing to warn about “significant risks that were never disclosed to the medical community,” ultimately putting tens of thousands of patients at risk of death or serious injury.
The lawsuit was filed on November 22, 2019, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois — Case: 1:19-cv-07716.
Can I Join a Uloric Class Action Lawsuit?
Many lawsuits have been filed by people who took Uloric and suffered a heart attack or stroke. However, these lawsuits are not part of a class action. Instead, they are individual lawsuits for people who are seeking compensation for their injury, medical expenses, wrongful death of a loved one, and more.
Takeda Hit With Whistleblower Lawsuit
In 2012, Takeda Pharmaceuticals was hit with two whistleblower lawsuits filed by Helen Ge, a former safety consultant who alleged that the company was not reporting severe side effects of Uloric and Actos (pioglitazone), including bladder cancer, bone marrow failure, and more.
Uloric Side Effects
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Renal failure (or “kidney failure”)
- Kidney disease
- Acute Kidney Injury (AKI)
- Unstable angina
- Bone marrow failure
- Medication interactions
- Death
Need a Uloric Lawyer in Texas?
Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged.
Collen’s amazing success in the courtroom and well known dedication to his clients has earned him the recognition of his peers as one of The Top Trial Lawyers in Texas.”
The Clark Firm has assembled a team of trial lawyers with more than 100 years experience, participation in over 600 jury trials and $260 million in verdicts and/or settlements. Please use the form below to contact our law firm for a free case review.
To contact us for a free review of your potential case, please fill out the form below or call us toll free 24 hrs/day by dialing: