An Onglyza pancreatic cancer lawsuit may be an option for patients who took the prescription medication to treat type 2 diabetes and suffered serious side effects, including inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis) and pancreatic cancer. Affected patients and families may be eligible to recover compensation with the help of an Onglyza lawsuit attorney.
For more information, contact Attorney Group today. Our consultations are free, confidential and without any obligation on your part. We can help answer your questions, and if you choose to pursue a claim we can connect you with an affiliated attorney who can assist you throughout the legal process.
What is Onglyza?
Onglyza is an oral diabetes medicine used to control high blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes. Primarily used to treat type 2 diabetes, Onglyza belongs to a group of diabetic medications called incretin-based therapies, specifically belonging to a class called dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors. The drug may be used in in addition to other diabetes medications.
How Does Onglyza Work?
Along with diet and exercise, Onglyza is used to treat adults with type 2 diabetes, however, the drug is not used to treat type 1 diabetes. Saxagliptin, the active ingredient in Onglyza and type of DPP-4 inhibitor, works to balance blood sugar levels and help the body increase the production of insulin after the consumption of meals.
Onglyza and the Risk of Pancreatic Cancer
According to a safety communication published in 2013, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned of reports of acute pancreatitis in patients who used Onglyza to treat type 2 diabetes. Acute pancreatitis is the inflammation of the pancreas, and severe cases of the disease can be life threatening or deadly.
Other serious complications such as pancreatic cancer have been associated with the use of incretin-based therapies, including the use of Onglyza. In 2013, the American Diabetes Association published an article in Diabetes, a peer-reviewed journal focusing on diabetes research. The article concluded that incretin therapy in humans resulted in a marked expansion of the exocrine and endocrine pancreatic compartments, potentially evolving into cancerous neuroendocrine tumors.
Also in 2013, the FDA issued a report investigating and evaluating unpublished findings suggesting the possible increased risk of pancreatitis and pre-cancerous cellular changes in adults who used incretin mimetic medications, including Onglyza. At the time of the precaution, the FDA advised patients to continue taking the drug as prescribed until they were able to discuss options with their doctor or health care professional.
Onglyza Side Effects
Onglyza may cause a number of reactions and side effects when used to treat diabetes. Common allergic reactions and side effects of Onglyza include:
- Severe pain in the upper stomach, which may spread to your back
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Fast heart rate
- Pain or burning when urinating
- Swelling of the hands, feet, or ankles
- Easy bruising or bleeding
Less serious side effects include:
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Sore throat
- Cough
- Headache
- Stomach pain
How An Onglyza Pancreatic Cancer Lawsuit Can Help
Drug manufacturers have a duty to ensure their products are accompanied by full and accurate instructions and warnings to guide prescribing doctors and other health care providers in making treatment decisions. If a drug maker fails to fulfill this duty, it could be held liable in lawsuits for injuries that may result.
Patients who are injured by Onglyza may be entitled to compensation for damages, including:
- Medical expenses
- The permanency of the injury
- Pain, suffering, and mental anguish
- Loss of income or ability to work
If a patient dies from complications after taking Onglyza, family members may be entitled to compensation for the wrongful death of their loved one, including:
- Conscious pain and suffering of a loved one prior to death
- Pain, suffering, and mental anguish from the loss of a loved one
- Funeral expenses
Patients who have suffered severe side effects after taking Onglyza, as well as the families of those who have died as a result of complications with the drug, are encouraged to seek the advice of an Onglyza pancreatic cancer lawsuit attorney to learn more about their rights and remedies.
The Time You Have to Pursue a Claim is Limited. Contact Us Today.
For more information, contact Attorney Group. You can fill out the form on this page, call us at the number listed at the top of the page, or email us at info@attorneygroup.com.
When you contact us, an attorney will follow up with you to speak with you about your case or answer questions that you might have. There is no cost or obligation to speak with us, and any information you provide will be kept confidential.
Please note that the law limits the time you have to pursue a claim or file a lawsuit for an injury. If you think you have a case, you should not delay taking action.
See our Frequently Asked Questions page for more information, and contact Attorney Group today.
