Europe’s regulator has given its support to continued use of Takeda’s diabetes pill Actos but has recommended new contraindications and warnings be added to the label regarding a “small increased risk of bladder cancer”. Last month, France and Germany suspended use of Actos (pioglitazone) and Competact (pioglitazone/metformin) following new data from a retrospective study which appears to indicate a slight increased risk of bladder cancer with pioglitazone-containing medicines. However, having completed its review which began in March, the European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) says medicines containing pioglitazone “remain a valid treatment option for certain patients with type 2 diabetes”.
