Over the past several years, Byetta, or exenatide, has become one of the best-selling type 2 diabetes medications in the country. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Byetta for use in 2005. It was intended to help those with type 2 diabetes better manage their blood sugar levels, according to Amylin Pharmaceuticals, its manufacturer. Although many patients have taken Byetta and experienced few complications, others have reportedly suffered from pancreatic cancer, thyroid cancer, and other life-threatening conditions while taking the medication.
Contact Attorney Group for Kansas today for a free consultation if you or someone you love took Byetta and subsequently suffered from adverse side effects. You may be entitled to file a Kansas Byetta lawsuit and seek compensation for your injuries. We can help you determine if you have a case and, if you do, we can connect you with an affiliated attorney who can file your Kansas Byetta lawsuit.
What is Byetta?
Byetta imitates the function of incretin, a hormone found in the gastrointestinal tract. Byetta stimulates the pancreatic cells so they produce more insulin and thus lower the patient’s blood sugar levels. Following its approval by the FDA, Byetta was marketed as a revolutionary type 2 diabetes treatment. Amylin reportedly generated $700 million in sales from the product from 2005 to 2008, although studies began to surface that Byetta could possibly cause cancer and other life-threatening complications such as pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. Additionally, patients have reportedly experienced:
- Vomiting, nausea, headaches
- Chest and abdominal pain
- Elevated respiratory and heart rates
- Kidney damage and failure
- Unstable blood pressure
- Allergic reactions
- Hypoglycemia
- Hypersensitivity
- Renal impairment
- Acute necrotizing pancreatitis
- Immunogenicity
The FDA released a consumer safety warning in October 2007 after 30 separate incident reports were submitted to the agency of patients allegedly developed acute pancreatitis while taking Byetta. Afterwards, the agency received six more reports of hemorrhagic pancreatitis, necrotizing pancreatitis, and two deaths allegedly caused by Byetta. The FDA updated the drug’s warning label in August 2008 to reflect these newest risks.
Byetta Lawsuits Filed in the U.S
Patients across the country are filing Byetta lawsuits against the manufacturer after allegedly experiencing serious health complications. Pancreatitis may progress into pancreatic cancer as a result of the increased cell turnover and chronic inflammation. Plaintiffs allege that Amylin neglected to warn the medical and public communities of this risk and failed to inform physicians of the importance of monitoring and testing their patients for changes within the pancreas.
Plaintiffs further claim that the manufacturer failed to adequately research the complications or possible side effects of Byetta before it was released into the market. Additionally, the manufacturer is accused of neglecting to provide adequate warnings to consumers regarding the effects the medication could possibly have on a patient’s thyroid or pancreas. If you took Byetta to manage your type 2 diabetes and you developed pancreatitis, thyroid cancer, or pancreatic cancer, you may be eligible to file a Kansas Byetta lawsuit and recover damages for lost wages, pain and suffering, or out-of-pocket medical expenses. Consider seeking legal counsel to learn more about your rights and taking the first step in filing your Kansas Byetta lawsuit.
Do You Have a Kansas Byetta Lawsuit?
Attorney Group for Kansas is currently investigating potential cases on behalf of patients who took Byetta and allegedly experienced life-threatening side effects or complications as a result. If you were diagnosed with pancreatitis and you believe that Byetta was the cause, contact Attorney Group for Kansas today for a free case evaluation. We can answer your questions and connect you with an affiliated attorney who can file your Kansas Byetta lawsuit and work to help you seek the compensation to which you may be entitled.
