Patients who are taking Uloric to manage and treat chronic gout may be at an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. Wexler Wallace is currently investigating claims of cardiovascular injuries while taking Uloric.
Uloric (febuxostat) was approved by the FDA in 2009 to treat adults suffering from gout, a painful and persistent form of inflammatory arthritis that develops due to high levels of uric acid in the blood that affects more than 8.3 million Americans.
But while Uloric has been found to be effective at lowering uric acid levels, the FDA advised patients taking the drug of possible cardiovascular events. The drug manufacturer, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, was required to conduct a large postmarket safety clinical trial. The primary outcome of that trial was published in the New England Journal of Medicine and showed a higher risk of cardiovascular death for patients taking Uloric compared to those taking allopurinol, an alternative gout medication.
In February, 2019, the FDA required that the label for Uloric should be revised with a black box warning, the agency’s strictest and most severe warning.
Despite the research and increased warning, Uloric has not been pulled from the market, and is still regularly prescribed to patients.
A whistleblower lawsuit was later filed alleging that Takeda Pharmaceuticals knew about the increased risks of Uloric and concealed them from the public, including modifying and altering documents sent to the FDA. The lawsuit was ultimately dismissed due to procedural flaws in the complaint, a move that was opposed by the U.S. Department of Justice on public policy grounds.
Potential Cardiovascular Symptoms of Uloric
Because patients taking Uloric are at an especially high risk of cardiovascular issues like heart attack, stroke, heart-related death, and unstable angina, you should be aware of the symptoms that may indicate an issue. These include:
- Rapid or irregular heartbeat
- Difficulty breathing, talking, or forming sentences
- Numbness or immobility affecting one side of the body
- Chest pain
- Swelling in the legs, ankles, and feet
- Fatigue and weakness
If you are currently taking Uloric and experience one or more of these symptoms, it is advised to contact your doctor immediately.
Contact Wexler Wallace for a Free Evaluation of Your Uloric Heart Attack Lawsuit Claim
Wexler Wallace is a nationwide leader in dangerous drug and medical device litigation, with experience taking on some of the industry’s biggest and most powerful manufacturers. If you or a loved one experienced a heart attack, stroke, or similar cardiac episode while taking Uloric, contact us today for a free case evaluation.