A news article published online on July 5, 2013 in The Lancet discusses the carcinogenic potential of Actos (pioglitazone), a drug used for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes. Specifically, the article summarizes the assessments made in a recent expert meeting at the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Based on evidence that Actos is associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer in both humans and animals, the IARC Monograph Working Group classified the drug as “probably carcinogenic to humans [or carcinogenic risk group 2A].”

Of note, this group includes drugs with a higher risk of carcinogenicity compared to those classified as just “possibly carcinogenic to humans [or group 2B].”

Sources: The Lancet, http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanonc/article/PIIS1470-2045(13)70329-2/fulltext#article_upsell