Both Germany and France have taken Actos off the market because of an increased risk of getting bladder cancer. The US is taking no action. Global sales of Actos are in the vicinity of $5 billion annually. All three "glitazone" drugs for type 2 diabetes have a poor track record. Rezulin was taken off the market more than a decade ago because it caused liver failure. Avandia remains on the market despite the fact that it increases the incidence of heart attack by 43% and the risk of dying from a heart attack by more than 60%. In theory this class of drugs increases insulin sensitivity, which is good, but their side effects outweigh the benefits of lowered insulin resistance.
The US FDA has been very slow to even look at problems with Avandia or Actos in any serious way.
