In 2000, Eli Lilly and Takeda Chemical launched Actos, an oral anti diabetes agent. In 2005, a PROactive Study demonstrated an increase in the presence of bladder cancer associated with Actos compared to competitor drugs.

In 2006, Takeda and Eli Lilly ended their joint marketing agreement, with Eli Lilly retaining marketing rights for Asia, Canada, Europe, and Mexico, and Takeda retaining U.S. rights, although Takeda bought back the rights in seven countries in 2009. In 2007, the FDA issued a blackbox warning and in 2011 it was banned in France and Germany.

In April 2014, Takeda and Eli Lilly were ordered to pay a combined $9 billion as a result of masking cancer risks associated with Actos. It is the seventh-largest jury award in U.S. history.