Byetta Cancer
Byetta Use May Increase Risk of Pancreatic, Liver or Thyroid Cancer Lawsuit
Byetta Side Effects Include Pancreatic Cancer, Liver Cancer, Thyroid Cancer. Treats Type 2 Diabetes
Byetta, an injectable drug used to treat Type 2 Diabetes, may be associated with an increased risk of pancreatic cancer, liver cancer or thyroid cancer. Byetta has been seen to cause life-threatening pancreatitis in some patients, a condition that if it becomes chronic, can lead to pancreatic cancer. In 2010, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) reported that drugs in the same class as Byetta could be linked to an increased risk of thyroid tumors.
If you or a loved one took Byetta and were diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, liver cancer or thyroid cancer, you may be entitled to compensation. The lawyers at Parker Waichman LLP are offering free lawsuit evaluations to anyone who may have developed pancreatic cancer, liver cancer or thyroid cancer, because of this defective drug. To learn how our Byetta cancer lawyers can help you, please contact us today
Byetta and Pancreatic Cancer
Byetta belongs to a class of drugs known as GLP-1 analogs. These drugs act by enhancing the activity of a hormone in the gastro-intestinal tract called glucagon-like-peptide-1 (GLP-1), which results in lower blood sugar levels.
Byetta has been linked to life-threatening pancreatic problems, including hemorrhagic and necrotizing pancreatitis. In 2008, the FDA said it had received more than 30 reports of acute pancreatitis in Byetta users, as well as two deaths and four hospitalizations for pancreatic problems. In 2009, the FDA directed the maker of Byetta to conduct six post-marketing studies to help further define the mechanism, incidence, and risk factors for the development of acute pancreatitis, including hemorrhagic and necrotizing pancreatitis, associated with the use of Byetta, as well as to explore a potential signal of a serious risk of thyroid cancer and pancreatic cancer.
Chronic pancreatitis is often a precursor to pancreatic cancer, one of the deadliest types of cancer. For that reason Byetta patients need to be aware of the signs and symptoms of pancreatitis. They must seek medical attention immediately should they experience any symptoms.
Possible symptoms of Byetta pancreatitis include:
- Abdominal pain
- Vomiting
- Fever
- Nausea
- Rapid heartbeat
- Swollen, tender abdomen
- Changes in bowel movements
Byetta and Thyroid Cancer
In 2010, an FDA advisory panel revealed that another drug in the same class as Byetta had been seen to cause thyroid tumors in laboratory animals. The FDA expressed concern that all extended-release Diabetes drugs belonging to that family may be linked to thyroid tumors. As a result, the agency said strict label warnings may be necessary to alert users of these drugs - including Byetta - about the potential cancer risk and the possibility of thyroid tumors. Victoza, the GLP analog that prompted this concern, already bears a Black Box warning about a possible association with thyroid cancer.
Amylin Pharmaceuticals, which manufactures and distributes the drug jointly with Eli Lilly, tried to downplay the Byetta pancreatic cancer, liver cancer and thyroid cancer risks. It pointed out that Victoza and Byetta are different molecules, and indicated that there was no evidence of any link between Byetta and thyroid cancer. However, following the FDA report company officials conceded that cancer concerns, while not proven, cannot be ruled out as a side effect of Byetta. The company added that a statistically significant increase in thyroid cancers was seen in female rats given doses significantly higher than what is normal.
Help for Byetta pancreatic cancer, liver cancer or thyroid cancer Victims
If you suffer from pancreatic cancer, liver cancer or thyroid cancer, and you took Byetta, you may have valuable legal rights. To learn how our Byetta cancer lawyers can help you, please fill out our online form or call 1 800 LAW INFO (1-800-529-4636) today.
