Januvia Wrongful Death Lawsuit Filed Over Pancreatic Cancer

A product liability lawsuit has been filed by the daughter of a Missouri woman who died of pancreatic cancer after Januvia use, alleging that the death was caused by side effects of the popular type 2 diabetes drug.

The complaint (PDF) was filed by Dawn Mooney in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri on March 29, indicating that her mother, Ruth Nash, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in December 2011, after taking Januvia for about seven months. Nash died on September 25, 2012.

According to allegations raised in the Januvia wrongful death lawsuit, Merck concealed information from consumers and the medical community about the link between pancreatic cancer and Januvia, failing to even mention ‘pancreatic cancer’ in the drug warnings.

Pancreatic Cancer Concerns with Januvia, Janumet, Byetta, Bydureon, Victoza

The complaint comes just weeks after the FDA announced that it was investigating the potential link between pancreatic cancer and incretin mimetics, an entire class of diabetes drugs that includes Januvia, Janumet, Byetta, Bydureon, Victoza and others. European health officials have also launched a similar review.

The investigations were initiated after findings from a recent study were released that examined pancreatic tissue taken from users after they died, which indicated that patients treated with incretin mimetics face an increased risk of pancreatitis and pre-cancerous cellular changes, known as pancreatic duct metaplasia. The FDA has asked the researchers for information on the methodology used to collect and study these specimens, as well as for tissue samples so the agency may further investigate the potential pancreatic toxicity.

The complaint filed by Mooney joins a growing number of Januvia pancreatic cancer lawsuits filed in courts throughout the country, as well as a number of lawsuits over Byetta, Victoza and other variations of the drugs.

Januvia (sitagliptin) was approved by the FDA in 2006. It is also available under the brand name Janumet, which combines Januvia with metformin. Both products deliver the medication in pill form.

Byetta (exenatide) is a related diabetes drug that is delivered through a twice daily injection. This was the first member of the class of drugs to reach the market when it was introduced in April 2005. A long-acting version is now also available under the brand name Bydureon.

Victoza (liraglutide) is a daily injection that was approved in January 2010, but the medication is not as widely used as Januvia and Byetta.