PARKER WAICHMAN LLP – DPP-4 INHIBITOR SIDE EFFECTS LAWSUIT LAWYERS
Parker Waichman LLP is evaluating potential legal claims associated with the use of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors, drugs used to treat type 2 diabetes, and the development of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). If you have taken DPP-4 inhibitors to treat your type 2 diabetes and were subsequently diagnosed with IBD, you may be entitled to compensation. However, to find out more, you should consider speaking with a qualified DPP-4 Inhibitors Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Lawsuit Lawyer about your situation.
What Are Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 (DPP-4) Inhibitors?
Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors are a group of drugs used to treat type 2 diabetes. Examples of DPP-4 inhibitors include, but may not be limited to, Januvia, Galvus, Onglyza, and Tradjenta. DPP-4 inhibitors are typically used as a secondary treatment for type 2 diabetes and may be used in conjunction with metformin and other type 2 diabetes medications. However, because all patients are different, the use of DPP-4 inhibitors may also work differently based on a patient’s pre-existing conditions and current treatment regimen for type 2 diabetes. Patients who experience digestive problems may not be good candidates for DPP-4 inhibitors based on new findings that the class of drugs may be linked to IBD.
What is Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)?
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) describes two types of conditions that involve inflammation of the digestive tract. The first type of IBD is called “ulcerative colitis,” a condition that results in long-term inflammation and ulcers in the inner lining of the large intestine and rectum. The second type of IBD is called “Chron’s disease,” a more widely known condition that results in inflammation of the lining of the digestive tract, which can spread to surrounding tissues. Patients suffering from either type of IBD may experience severe diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss, and abdominal pain.
The consequences of IBD can be devastating, as pain and discomfort may be ongoing. Symptoms may become chronic or permanent, making every day difficult for IBD patients. Therefore, any person taking a DPP-4 inhibitor for the treatment of type 2 diabetes should be aware that IBD is a possible consequence of taking the type 2 diabetes drug, especially when taken with other type 2 diabetes drugs at the same time.
Study Shows Link Between DPP-4 Inhibitors and IBD
As evidence began to surface suggesting a link between DPP-4 inhibitors and the development of IBD, investigators conducted a population-based cohort study using patient data obtained from the United Kingdom. The study comprised of more than 141,000 patients who began taking a DPP-4 inhibitor between January 1, 2007, and December 31, 2016. The patients received follow-up care and evaluation up until June 30, 2017. The study’s findings suggest that patients taking DPP-4 inhibitors had a 75% increased risk of developing IBD compared with the use of another type 2 diabetes drug. The study also suggests that the longer a person takes a DPP-4 inhibitor, the greater the chance is that the person will develop IBD.
Because many DPP-4 inhibitors on the market today are relatively new drugs, it is not yet known how strong the link is between the use of DPP-4 inhibitors to treat type 2 diabetes and the development of IBD. However, the recent study conducted out of the United Kingdom demonstrates that the scientific and medical communities have valid concerns about whether patients taking DPP-4 inhibitors are at a greater risk of developing IBD than if they were taking another type 2 diabetes drugs. As such, patients and doctors should be aware that IBD is certainly a risk associated with taking DPP-4 inhibitors, and such risks should always be communicated to patients.
Did DPP-4 Inhibitor Manufacturers Know About the Link Between Their Drugs and IBD?
Currently, it is unclear whether manufacturers of popular DPP-4 inhibitors, such as Januvia, Galvus, Onglyza, and Tradjenta, have acknowledged that their type 2 diabetes drugs may lead to the development of IBD in certain patients, especially when their drugs are used in conjunction with another type 2 diabetes drug. Overall, drug manufacturers have a duty to investigate how their drugs may be unsafe for patients. Based on the recent study drawing a link between DPP-4 inhibitors and the development of IBD, patients may wonder whether the manufacturers of DPP-4 inhibitors should have been the first to draw this link.
If manufacturers of DPP-inhibitors did, in fact, know about the risk of developing IBD, and have concealed this known risk from doctors and patients, the manufacturers may be held liable in a lawsuit alleging negligence and product liability claims. However, it is sometimes difficult to know the entire story until an injured plaintiff can obtain documents from the drug manufacturers through a lawsuit. Documents often shed light on information that is not public, and such information may help to support an injured person’s legal claims.
Find Out if You Have a Potential DPP-4 Inhibitor IBD Lawsuit
To determine if you may be entitled to compensation for developing IBD after taking a DPP-4 inhibitor to treat type 2 diabetes, you should have your potential case evaluated by one of the Product Liability Lawyers of Parker Waichman LLP. Upon review of your potential case, our legal team will ask the following questions:
- Have you been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes?
- Have you been diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)?
- Were you taking a DPP-4 inhibitor (such as Januvia, Galvus, Onglyza, or Tradjenta) for the treatment of type 2 diabetes before being diagnosed with IBD?
- Were you taking a brand version of a DPP-4 inhibitor or a generic equivalent?
- Were you taking any other type 2 diabetes drugs in addition to a DPP-4 inhibitor at the time you were diagnosed with IBD?
- How severe are your IBD symptoms?
- Do you currently receive treatment for your IBD?
- Have you incurred medical expenses because of your IBD?
- When were you diagnosed with IBD?
- Has the statute of limitations period for filing a product liability claim expired?
These sample questions provide a snapshot of what our law firm wants to find out when evaluating a potential DPP-4 inhibitor IBD claim. Given that every client will have a unique story, our lawyers may have additional questions that apply to one client but not to another.
Parker Waichman LLP – Recovering More Than $2 Billion in Compensation for Clients
The nationally-recognized Defective Drug and Medical Device Lawyers of Parker Waichman LLP represent injured clients from throughout the United States, helping them receive compensation for their pain and suffering. At Parker Waichman LLP, we have successfully obtained more than $2 billion in compensation collectively for our clients through settlements and trial verdicts. Because our law firm’s history of success in helping so many clients, we have received the following positive peer-reviewed ratings:
- 9.8/10 Rating by AVVO;
- “Preeminent Lawyers” AV Rating by Martindale-Hubbell;
- Ranking of “5 Dragons” by Lawdragon (highest ranking available); and
- Listing in “Best Lawyers” Publication Established by Thorough Peer Review.
To learn why Parker Waichman LLP may be the right law firm for you, our products liability attorneys encourage you to contact our law office to speak with a member of our legal team.
Contact a DPP-4 Inhibitor IBD Lawsuit Lawyer Today to Schedule Your Free Consultation
If you were taking a DPP-4 inhibitor for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and you were later diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), it may be time to discuss your situation with an experienced Defective Drug Lawyer. At Parker Waichman LLP, our national DPP-4 inflammatory bowel disease lawsuit lawyers are standing by to provide you with the case evaluation and guidance you need to move forward. To schedule your free case consultation, contact our office today by calling (800) YOUR-LAWYER (968-7529).