Victoza attorneys can help patients who took the medication and suffered from severe side effects and complications. Lawsuits allege that the type 2 diabetes medication may lead to the development of severe and possibly fatal side effects, including pancreatic cancer and kidney failure. Affected patients and their loved ones may be eligible to file a lawsuit and seek compensation with the help of a bad drug 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 affiliated Victoza attorneys who can assist you throughout the legal process.
What is Victoza?
Approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in January 2010, Victoza helps relieve insulin deficiencies while preventing the overproduction of sugar in patients struggling with type 2 diabetes. The medication was reportedly touted as a “wonder drug,” and it quickly became one of the most highly-prescribed medications for diabetes. In 2011, for example, the drug grossed more than $670 million.
Victoza, however, was controversial even before it received approval from the FDA. Three safety workers employed by the FDA reportedly cautioned the agency and described potential side effects associated with the use of the medication. The FDA allegedly ignored the concerns and instead went ahead and approved the drug for use on the public market. In clinical trials, those taking the medication were more likely to experience pancreatitis, or inflammation of the pancreas. Additionally, rats and mice exposed to high doses of the medication developed thyroid tumors; the FDA allegedly maintained that such would not necessarily be the case in humans.
Still, the safety reviewers allegedly reminded the FDA that there were already 11 similar drugs on the market to help treat type 2 diabetes; there was no real urgency to approve this medication without first subjecting the drug to thorough clinical trials. The FDA overruled and placed the drug on the market but asked Novo Nordisk to conduct a five-year study to determine whether there is a link to an increased risk of thyroid cancer, pancreatitis, low blood sugar levels and allergic reactions.
How Does Victoza Work?
As the drug was introduced, the manufacturer claims that it was intended to help those living with type 2 diabetes to better regulate blood glucose levels. Using Victoza every day not only helped the individual’s body to produce more insulin but also helped to use the insulin in a more productive manner. While thousands of patients have used the drug without complications, hundreds of others are reporting serious side effects such as thyroid cancer, pancreatitis, renal failure and allergic reactions, leading them to seek compensation with the assistance of knowledgeable Victoza attorneys.
Victoza Health Risks
The FDA released a statement in June 2011 acknowledging the potential link between the medication and thyroid cancer. The agency reportedly analyzed 25 separate claims of the cancer between February 2010 and September 2011. Plaintiffs and Victoza attorneys across the country have reported symptoms indicative of the condition including:
- Difficulty breathing
- Trouble swallowing
- A lump in the neck
- Hoarseness
In May 2011, the FDA also reportedly ordered that the medication’s warning level be updated to indicate a potential relationship with renal impairment. The statement reports that Victoza may cause renal impairment, vomiting, diarrhea, nausea or dehydration that often requires hemodialysis. If you were taking Victoza and you were diagnosed with renal impairment, contact experienced Victoza attorneys to learn more about your rights.
According to records, 28 cases of pancreatic cancer and 200 cases of acute pancreatitis were reported to the FDA as of July 2011. Likewise, the FDA issued a safety communication in March 2013 to inform the public and health care providers that the agency continues to investigate the safety of the type 2 diabetes medication. According to the warning, the FDA is evaluating unpublished research that may suggest an increased risk of pancreatitis, or inflammation of the pancreas, as well as pre-cancerous cellular changes associated with the treatment of type 2 diabetes with incretin mimetics such as Victoza.
The FDA has previously warned the public about post-marketing reports of fatal and non-fatal cases of acute pancreatitis associated with the use of other incretin mimetic drugs.As a result, Victoza attorneys continue to work to help patients and family members who were suffering the effects and complications of the medication. The FDA also recommended that physicians should carefully monitor patients for whom they prescribe the drug or increase the dosage for symptoms of pancreatitis.
Other Victoza Side Effects
Other side effects of Victoza include:
- Intense abdominal pain
- Low blood sugar
- Kidney disease
- Signs of an allergic reaction
- Rashes, itching or hives
More common side effects reported by patients include:
- Vomiting, diarrhea, nausea
- Head pain
- Loss of appetite
- Indigestion
- Incomplete or infrequent bowel movements
How Victoza Attorneys Can Help
Drug makers have a duty to provide safe products. If there are risks of harm associated with their products, they also must provide adequate warnings. If a drug maker fails to fulfill this duty, it could be held liable in lawsuits for injuries that may result.
People injured by Victoza may be eligible to recover money for:
- Medical Expenses
- Lost Wages
- Pain and Suffering
The families of those who have died may be eligible to recover money for funeral expenses and the pain that comes with losing a loved one.
For more information, contact Attorney Group. After you contact us, an attorney will follow up to 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.