London, EnglandOfficials in Europe have reportedly launched a safety probe into potential Actos side effects after the diabetes drug was shown to be possibly linked to an increased risk of bladder cancer, Reuters reports.
According to the news provider, the European Medicines Agency said that experts would look at the balance between the benefits and risks of the medication, which is generically known as pioglitazone.
The potential bladder cancer risk has been examined since the medication was approved in 2000, and its manufacturer, Takeda, is reportedly conducting its own 10-year study on the cancer rates of patients using the drug.
While three interim studies have not been able to confirm a definite link between bladder cancer and the medication, the European Medicines Agency said that its latest review stems from recent spontaneous reports, according to the news source.
Actos is reportedly in the same drug class as GlaxoSmithKline's Avandia, which was pulled from the European market last year. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, less serious side effects of Actos can include dizziness, headaches and mood changes.
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