Takeda Pharmaceuticals named in wrongful death lawsuit

Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A has been named in another wrongful death suit over Actos.

Francine Novak, as special administrator of the Estate of Leonard Novak, filed suit Nov. 11 in the Cook County Circuit Court on Nov. 11 against Takeda Pharmaceuticals, as well as Dr. Joel Kragt and Metrodocs S.C.

According to the complaint, Leonard was prescribed the drug Actos in 2006 by Kragt to treat  diabetes. Leonard allegedly took the drug once a day for four years until March 2010, when he diagnosed with bladder cancer.

Novak claims Leonard died as a result of his bladder cancer in Nov. 2011. She accuses the defendants of prescribing and manufacturing a drug known to be defective.

She is seeking more than $50,000 in damages and is being represented by Chicago attorney Stephen D. Blandin.

Circuit Court of Cook County Case No. 2013L012348.

This is a report on a civil lawsuit filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County. The details in this report come from an original complaint filed by a plaintiff. Please note, a complaint represents an accusation by a private individual, not the government. It is not an indication of guilt, and it only represents one side of the story.