Researchers from Ferrara, Italy have published a clinical study that adds to the growing concerns about the side effects of diabetes drugs such as Byetta, Victoza, Janumet and Januvia, which have recently been linked to a possible increased risk of pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer.
If you or someone you love have taken a type 2 diabetes medication and you are currently experiencing side effects of diabetes drugs, you may be entitled to pursue a claim and seek compensation for your injuries.
Study Reports Side Effects of Diabetes Drugs
Published in the medical journal Expert Opinion on Drug Safety in early November 2013, researchers reportedly confirmed past U.S. studies that linked incretin mimetics to damage of the pancreas in patients taking the medications.
In the study, researchers investigated 1,169 adverse event reports pertaining to the class of drugs, which included Januvia, Victoza, Byetta and Janumet. The study found 90 cases of elevated pancreatic enzymes and pancreatitis, with more than one third of these cases labeled as “serious.” The results raise concerns that pancreatitis may lead to the development of pancreatic cancer in some patients.
The researchers concluded that the data from the daily clinical practice confirm the information already circulating pertaining to the possible association between Januvia, Byetta, Janumet and Victoza and cases of pancreatic damage. The group also suggested caution in the prescribing of incretin mimetics and a close monitoring in patients exposed to the medications to catch side effects of diabetes drugs if they should present themselves.
In February 2013, researchers at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore concluded that taking Byetta or Januvia may double the risk of hospitalization from pancreatitis, which also raised concerns about whether taking these medications may also increase the risk of pancreatic cancer.
The risk of pancreatic cancer from Byetta, Victoza, Janumet and Januvia also gained additional attention in March 2013 after yet another study published in the medical journal Diabetes concluded that tissue in the pancreas from organ donors taking an incretin mimetic were more likely to have precancerous cells and increased pancreatic masses.
Shortly after receiving information about the clinical trials and the effect of incretin mimetics on the pancreas, the FDA launched an investigation to determine whether these medications increased the risk of developing pancreatic cancer.
Lawsuits Surrounding Incretin Mimetics
Many who have taken incretin mimetics and who have been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer are pursuing product liability claims against the manufacturers of the drugs. These plaintiffs allege that the drug makers failed to provide sufficient warnings regarding the potential association with pancreatic cancer to patients and the medical community and neglected to adequately research the medications prior to releasing them.
The U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation established consolidated pretrial proceedings in August 2013 for all lawsuits pertaining to Byetta, Januvia, Victoza and Janumet. Currently, there are over 150 cases centralized in the U.S. District Court, Southern District of California before U.S. District Judge Anthony J. Battaglia. Such consolidations are often used to avoid contradictory rulings in the pretrial stages from different judges, to reduce duplicative discovery across a large number of cases and to serve the convenience of the courts, witnesses and parties. The cases involve the following medications:
- Byetta (exenatide), manufactured by Amylin Pharmaceuticals and introduced in 2005
- Januvia (sitagliptin), manufactured by Merck & Co. and introduced in 2006
- Janumet (sitagliptin, metflormin), manufactured by Merck & Co. and introduced in 2007
- Victoza (liraglutide), manufactured by Novo Nordisk and introduced in 2010
Plaintiffs allege a number of side effects of diabetes drugs such as pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, renal impairment, hypersensitivity, headaches, allergic reactions, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, immunogenicity and kidney damage, among other conditions. If you have been injured, you may be entitled to pursue a claim and hold the manufacturer accountable for your condition.
Need More Information about the Side Effects of Diabetes Drugs?
If you or someone you love took Byetta, Januvia, Janumet or Victoza and you suffered from adverse or life-threatening complications, you may be entitled to pursue a claim and seek compensation for your injuries. Contact Attorney Group today for your free, no-obligation case evaluation so that we may help you to determine if you have a valid claim. We will connect you with experienced dangerous drug attorneys who understand the side effects of diabetes drugs and who will handle your claim throughout the legal process.
