The TGA has advised that pioglitazone (Actos) should not be used in patients with bladder cancer or a history of bladder cancer, and doctors should be aware of a small increased risk of bladder cancer with the drug.
In an alert (see link) issued this week, the TGA says results from US and French studies suggest that use of the drug for more than a year is associated with a 1.4-fold increase in risk of bladder cancer compared to non-users.
The 'normal' incidence of bladder cancer in Australia is estimated to be around 2500 new cases a year, about three-quarters of these in males.
The TGA says pioglitazone is under review by a number of...
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