In 2011, M. Elashoff, from the Larry L. Hillblom Islet Research Center at David Geffen School of Medicine and Department of Biomathematics at University of California, Los Angeles, published a study titled “Pancreatitis, Pancreatic, and Thyroid Cancer with Glucagon like Peptide-1-based Therapies”, wherein concerns regarding risk for pancreatitis and pancreatic and thyroid cancers are explored.  Glucagon like peptide-1-based therapy is a treatment that is gaining widespread use.

Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors may cause cancer due to their ability to negatively affect immune function.  The study examined the US Food and Drug Administration’s database for reports that showed negative events with dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor sitagliptin and the glucagon-like peptide-1 mimetic exenatide (Byetta).  This information was from 2004-2009, and the control group of this study were adverse events connected with four other medications.  The report was looking for rates of reported pancreatitis, pancreatic and thyroid cancer, and all other cancers that may be associated with sitagliptin or exenatide.

Author M. Elashoff states “Use of sitagliptin or exenatide increased the odds ratio for reported pancreatitis 6-fold as compared with other therapies (P<2×10(-16)). Pancreatic cancer was more commonly reported among patients who took sitagliptin or exenatide as compared with other therapies (P<.008, P<9×10(-5)). All other cancers occurred similarly among patients who took sitagliptin compared with other therapies (P=.20).”

The information and data collected by this study showed to be consistent with case reports and animal studies on this subject: there was a clear indication of increased risk for pancreatitis with glucagon like peptide 1 based therapy.

Studies such as this can be used in a GLP-1 therapy pancreatic cancer lawsuit (such as a Byetta lawsuit, for example) to help demonstrate to a court that the manufacturers of exenatide (Byetta, Bydureon), liraglutide (Victoza), and sitagliptin (Januvia, Janumet, Janumet XR, Juvisync), (Bristol-Myers Squibb, Novo Nordisk, and Merck, respectively) and other GLP-1 therapy drugs knew, or should have known, the risks associated with their products.  Because warning labels for these drugs have not included this information, a number of Byetta lawsuits, Victoza lawsuits, and Januvia lawsuits have been filed around the world.

If you or a loved one used a GLP-1 therapy drug and suffered from pancreatitis or pancreatic cancer, you may be entitled to significant financial compensation from the manufacturer of the drug in question.  For a free, no-obligation case consultation, contact our team of Byetta lawyers, Victoza lawyers, and Januvia lawyers at the information provided below.  We have the skills, resources, and experience required to win the justice you and your loved ones deserve.

(855) 452 – 5529

justinian@dangerousdrugs.us

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!