Pioglitazone-Containing Drugs Pose Risk of Bladder Cancer, FDA Warns Following Updated Review

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Food and Drug Administration has concluded, as a result of an updated review of published studies, that the use of type 2 diabetes drugs containing pioglitazone may pose an increased risk of bladder cancer.

In a Dec. 12 Drug Safety Communication, the agency says it has approved label updates to describe the additional studies it reviewed. The drugs at issue are Actos, Actoplus Met and Actoplus Met XR, Duetact and Oseni, all of which are manufactured by Takeda Pharmacuticals.

In September 2010 and June 2011, the FDA alerted the public about the possible risk of bladder …