Onglyza, also known as saxagliptin, is a prescription medication intended to treat adults with type 2 diabetes; however, the medication has been linked to heart failure, risks affecting the cardiovascular system, pancreatitis, and pancreatic cancer. Affected patients and families may be eligible to file a Texas Onglyza lawsuit and pursue compensation for damages allegedly associated with the medication.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Texas 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?
Along with proper diet, regular exercise, and other lifestyle changes, diabetes medication Onglyza helps to lower blood sugar levels in individuals with type 2 diabetes. Approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2009, Onglyza belongs to a relatively new class of diabetic medications known as incretin-based therapies, specifically a group called dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors.
Who Takes Onglyza and How Does It Work?
Onglyza only treats adult patients who suffer from type 2 diabetes. People with type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis should not use Onglyza. Patients are urged to speak with their doctor before taking Onglyza, especially if they have gallstones, high triglycerides, kidney disease, pancreatitis, or a history of alcoholism.
Onglyza, like all DPP-4 inhibitors, works by increasing the amount of incretin, a hormone released by the intestines, available in the body. Inhibiting DPP-4 allows the incretin in the body to stay longer, triggering the release of insulin.
Onglyza Side Effects and Risks
Serious allergic reactions of Onglyza include swelling of the face, lips, or throat; difficulty swallowing or breathing; hives, rash, itching, flaking, or peeling; and swelling of the skin.
Additional Onglyza side effects include:
- Diarrhea
- Sore throat
- Swelling or fluid retention
- Nausea and vomiting
- Upper respiratory infection
- Urinary tract infection
- Headache
- Hypoglycemia and side effects associated with low blood sugar
In addition to some minor allergic reactions and side effects, the FDA has released information regarding serious, potentially life-threatening risks and the use of Onglyza.
Cardiovascular Risks and Heart Failure
In April 2015, an FDA advisory committee voted to recommend that the drug’s label include information warning patients about the potential risks of heart disease associated with the use of Onglyza. Based on what is known as the SAVOR study (a study of over 16,000 patients with type 2 diabetes), results published in the New England Journal of Medicine noted that Onglyza patients were more likely to be hospitalized with heart failure than those who did not use the medication.
Following the SAVOR study, the FDA requested that the makers of Onglyza submit clinical trial data to investigate a possible link between the use of the medication and heart failure. Although the investigation was preliminary, patients were encouraged to speak with their healthcare provider if they had any concerns.
Pancreatitis and Pancreatic Cancer Risks
As far back as 2009, the FDA began noting post-marked cases of acute pancreatitis in the diabetic medications Januvia and Janumet, two brand named drugs similar to Onglyza used to treat type 2 diabetes. In a 2013 article in the medical journal Diabetes, results indicated that patients who were treated with incretin-based therapies such as Onglyza experienced an increase in potential precancerous pancreatic mass by as much as 40 percent.
In addition to risks of pancreatitis, there is a potential risk of pancreatic cancer related to DPP-4 medications, including Onglyza. 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 suggested that patients continue taking the medicine as prescribed until they could discuss options with their doctor or health care provider.
How A Texas Onglyza 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 a Texas Onglyza 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 for Texas. 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 for Texas today.
