Author P. Bansal from the Division of Gastroenterology at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, conducted a study called “Pancreatitis is a Risk Factor For Pancreatic Cancer”, where the main goal was to determine if pancreatitis is a risk factor for pancreatic cancer. Information for this study was obtained from the Department of Veteran Affairs, which maintains a computerized file of hospital discharges since 1970.
First, a little background. Pancreatitis is inflammation in the pancreas. This organ produces enzymes that help digestion and hormones that help with the regulation of processing sugars in the body, and chronic pancreatitis (prolonged inflammation of the pancreas) has been associated with an elevated risk of developing pancreatic cancer. Some mild cases of pancreatitis may go away without treatment, however chronic pancreatitis may be life-threatening.
The Bansal study was a case-control study that compared the prevalence of pancreatitis in 2639 patients with pancreatic cancer. Data from this group was compared to a control group of 7,774 subjects. Bansal states “The odds ratio associated with pancreatitis increased from 2.04 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.53-2.72) 7 or more years before the first diagnosis of cancer to 2.14 (CI, 1.68-2.72) 3 or more years before cancer diagnosis and to 2.31 (CI, 1.87-2.86) 1 or more years before cancer diagnosis.” In other words, this data shows that having pancreatitis places one at at least twice as likely to develop pancreatic cancer than if one did not suffer from pancreatitis.
Using statistics to evaluate the data collected more generally, Bansal found that all types of pancreatitis or chronic pancreatitis were connected with a significant risk for pancreatic cancer, the odd ratio for these were 3.42. (Having pancreatitis makes one more than three times as likely to later have pancreatic cancer.)
Because this study concluded that having pancreatitis increases the risk one faces for developing pancreatic cancer, it can be used in a GLP-1 therapy pancreatic cancer lawsuit. Recently, a number of diabetes drugs such as Byetta, Victoza, and Januvia (used in GLP-1 therapy for type-two diabetes) have been linked to a dramatically increased risk for pancreatitis. Because pancreatitis is connected to pancreatic cancer, drugs that are connected to pancreatitis should also include warnings about the risk for pancreatic cancer. Due to the fact that the manufacturers of drugs like exenatide (Byetta, Bydureon), liraglutide (Victoza), and sitagliptin (Januvia, Janumet, Janumet XR, Juvisync) have failed time and again to include adequate warnings about pancreatic cancer, a number of Byetta lawsuits, Victoza lawsuits, and Januvia lawsuits are currently being filed.
If you or used Byetta, Victoza, Januvia, or another GLP-1 therapy drug and suffered from pancreatitis or pancreatic cancer, you may be entitled to significant financial compensation through a Byetta lawsuit, Victoza lawsuit, a Januvia lawsuit, or a GLP-1 therapy pancreatic cancer lawsuit. For a free, no-obligation case consultation, contact our team of Byetta lawyers, Victoza lawyers, Januvia lawyers, and GLP-1 therapy pancreatic cancer lawyers at the information provided below.
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Our Byetta Lawsuit / Victoza Lawsuits / Januvia Lawsuit Information page is a great place to start if you have any questions about GLP-1 therapy drugs and diabetes drug lawsuits. Call today and see how we can help!