Lawsuits

Side effects of the diabetes drugs Januvia, Janumet, Byetta and Victoza have been linked to an increased risk of pancreatic cancer. Lawsuits are being reviewed by lawyers throughout the United States for individuals diagnosed with pancreatic cancer after using diabetes drugs from the class of medications known as incretin mimetics.

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OVERVIEW: Incretin mimetics are a relatively new generation of diabetes drug, which were first introduced in 2005. The medications have been very controversial, amid reports involving a number of serious side effects and concerns that the drugs may be no more effective than older diabetes drugs.

• Byetta (exenatide) was originally introduced in April 2005, as a twice a day subcutaneous injection administered to help reduce blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetics.  Bydureon, a longer-acting version of the medication, was approved in January 2012, allowing users to take one dose a week to regulate their diabetes.
• Januvia (sitagliptin) is a once daily pill also  approved for the treatment of adults with Type-2 diabetes in 2006. It is one of the first in a new class of medications known as dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors, and is the most popular diabetes drug on the market. Janumet is a combination of Januvia and Metformin introduced by Merck in 2007.
• Victoza (liraglutide) was introduced by Novo Nordisk in 2010 as a daily injection. Some critics questioned whether the drug was necessary, because it was so close to Byetta in how it worked.

Amid aggressive promotions and marketing, the drugs have grown to become widely used among individuals with 2 diabetes, generating billions in annual sales.

Januvia and Janumet are among the best selling medications for the global pharmaceutical company Merck, with Janumet sales reaching over $1.3 billion in 2011 and Januvia sales hitting $919 million during the first quarter of 2012 alone.

Byetta sales were reported at $710 million in 2010 and were expected to reach $1 billion by 2015. Likewise, Victoza sales were about $1 billion in 2011, and reached $748 million during the first half of 2012.

DIABETES DRUG SIDE EFFECTS AND PANCREATIC CANCER: Incretin mimetics work by imitating incretin hormones in the body. They stimulate insulin release and inhibit the release of glucagon secretion, allowing people with type 2 diabetes to better control blood glucose levels.

Since their release, a number of studies have shown a link between Byetta, Januvia and similar drugs and pancreatic cancer, as well as pancreatitis and in some cases thyroid cancer. 

In the February 2013 edition of JAMA Internal Medicine, researchers raised serious concerns about pancreatic cancer risk, after a study found that individuals treated with Byetta and Januvia were twice as likely to be hospitalized with pancreatitis, which could ultimately lead to pancreatic cancer. Some researchers also located precancerous cells in donated organs from deceased patients who took the drugs as well.

In 2013, the FDA launched an investigation into the pancreatic cancer risk with diabetes drugs that are part of the incretin mimetics class. A similar safety review is also underway by European health officials.

DIABETES DRUG LAWSUIT STATUS: As of mid-2013, a growing number of Byetta lawsuits, Januvia lawsuits, Janumet lawsuits and Victoza lawsuits are being filed by users of the diabetes drugs diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. The complaints allege that the manufacturers failed to adequately warn about the pancreatic cancer side effects from the diabetes drugs.

Diabetes drug pancreatic cancer lawyers are providing free consultations and claim evaluations for individuals nationwide to help determine if financial compensation may be available. Claims are reviewed under a contingency fee agreement, which means that there are no fees or expenses unless a recovery is obtained.

Side effects of the cholesterol drug Lipitor may increase the risk of diabetes. As a result of Pfizer’s failure to adequately warn about this potential risk, former users may be entitled to financial compensation through a Lipitor diabetes lawsuit.

STATUS OF LIPITOR LAWSUITS: Product liability lawsuits are being reviewed by Lipitor lawyers for diabetes suffered by individuals throughout the United States. The litigation remains in the very earliest stages, as complaints continue to be filed.

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OVERVIEW: Lipitor (atorvastatin) is a statin-based cholesterol drug developed by the Pfizer subsidiary Warner-Lambert. The medication is one of the best selling drugs in the world, and generated more than $125 billion in sales before the patent expired in 2011. Several generic Lipitor versions are also now available.

Part of a class of medications known as “statins”, Lipitor is an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, which is prescribed to help reduce the amounts of cholesterol and other fatty substances in the blood. While the drug has been used by millions of Americans, it appears that the manufacturers failed to adequately warn that Lipitor side effects may increase the risk of diabetes.

LIPITOR DIABETES RISK: A number or studies and reports have found that there is a link between Lipitor and type 2 diabetes, which can pose serious health concerns for individuals who develop the condition.

In February 2012, the FDA announced it was requiring new label warnings on Lipitor and other statins to alert users to the possible increased risk of diabetes, but many believe the current Lipitor diabetes warnings remain insufficient.

The FDA required this label update after a number of studies suggested that the drug may increase an individual’s risk of developing diabetes:

• In a study published in The Lancet in February 2010, researchers found that side effects of statins, which include Lipitor and other drugs, may increase the risk of being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Researchers from University of Glasgo analyzed 13 different prior studies to identify the potential risk of diabetes with Lipitor and other statins.
• In March 2011, a study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that users of Lipitor had about a 33% higher risk fo developing type 2 diabetes over five years when compared to those taking a placebo. The study looked specifically at the link between Lipitor and diabetes.
• A follow up study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) in June 2011 further highlighted concerns, finding that high doses of Lipitor and other statins were linked to onset of diabetes. Among individuals given intensive-dose statin therapy, the rate of diabetes was about 1 out of every 500 users.
• In January 2012, a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that older women taking Lipitor and other statins may face a 50% increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Researchers examined data on more than 160,000 women who participated in the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) between the ages of 50 and 79, finding that nearly 10% of women who took statins developed type 2 diabetes within 9 years, compared with 6.4% of those who did not take statins but still developed diabetes.

FIND OUT IF YOU MAY QUALIFY FOR A LIPITOR LAWSUIT: Lawsuits allege that Pfizer knew or should have known about this potential side effect for years, and failed to provide accurate information to users or the medical community about the potential diabetes risk or the importance of closely monitoring blood glucose levels to see if Lipitor affects metabolis.

Type 2 diabetes from Lipitor may cause users of the cholesterol drug to face an increased risk of heart disease, blindness, neuropathy, kidney disease and other complications. In addition, individuals must undergo regular blood testing of glucose levels, adhere to restrictive diabetic diet and take medication to control diabetes.

Free consultations and claim evaluations are provided by lawyers who are reviewing potential Lipitor diabetes lawsuits throughout the United States.

The use of the diabetes drug Byetta may increase the risk of developing chronic, asymptomatic pancreatitis, which could ultimately lead to a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer from Byetta.

BYETTA LAWSUIT STATUS: As a result of the drug maker’s failure to properly research the side effects of Byetta or provide adequate warnings about the impact of the medication on the pancreas, product liability lawyers are reviewing potential Byetta pancreatic cancer lawsuits on behalf of individuals nationwide.

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The use of the epilepsy drug Depakote and similar drugs have been linked to an increased risk of birth defects and malformations, including cleft palate, spina bifida and deformed limbs and skulls.

DEPAKOTE LAWSUIT STATUS: Product liability lawyers are evaluating potential Depakote birth defect lawsuits for individuals who took valproate-based drugs during pregnancy and gave birth to a child with malformations or other problems. Continued

The Mirena IUD (Intrauterine Device) is a form of birth control that is placed into the uterus to prevent pregnancy. However, a number of women have reported suffering serious and debilitating injuries associated with side effects of Mirena, where the IUD may perforate the uterus, migrate to other parts of the body, cause infections or other problems. Continued