Sales of Diabetes Medication Rise despite Actos Side Effects

Osaka, JapanWhile Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. expects to post an 11 percent decrease in full-year operating profits, Actos side effects have not prevented the diabetes medication from exceeding sales expectations in the US.

span itemprop="image" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/ImageObject" style="display:block">Reuters reports that Takeda sales were expected to be four percent lower than last year, with net profit expected to be 16 percent lower.

Still, demand in the US for Actos and the multiple myeloma treatment Velcade surpassed the company's expectations. Additionally, sales of Vectibix, an anti-cancer agent, increased during the fiscal year.

The demand for Actos was high in the US despite a number of side effects that have been identified by researchers over the past few years. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, these serious side effects can potentially include congestive heart failure, which is characterized by the heart not being able to pump enough blood to the rest of the body.

Other side effects that have been linked to Actos include bladder cancer and liver problems.