Januvia, Janumet, Byetta, Victoza Lawyers
Have You Suffered Serious Side Effects Caused by Diabetes Medication? You May Be Entitled To Compensation.
Type 2 diabetes is a condition affecting approximately 27 million people in the United States. While there are several types of treatment for type 2 diabetes on the market, incretin mimetics drugs are a 9-billion-dollar business and are prescribed to thousands of patients every year. If you're an adult living with type 2 diabetes, the last thing you should have to worry about is potentially life-threatening side effects from your medication. However, studies have found that type 2 diabetes patients taking incretin mimetics drugs like Januvia®, Victoza®, Janumet®, and Byetta® are more likely to develop acute pancreatitis or pancreatic cancer - a particularly aggressive form of cancer that is most often fatal.
If you or someone you love took Januvia, Janumet, Byetta, or Victoza and suffered serious side effects, including pancreatic cancer or pancreatitis, you may be entitled to compensation from the manufacturer. At Grimes Teich Anderson, we are involved in litigation against pharmaceutical drug companies. Our attorneys have assisted victims and their family members in recovering compensation to cope with the damages associated with these dangerous drugs.*
Dangerous Diabetes Medications Linked to Pancreatitis and Pancreatic Cancer
Incretin mimetics are drugs that mimic the incretin hormones that the body usually produces naturally to stimulate the release of insulin in response to a meal. They are used along with diet and exercise to lower blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes. Numerous studies have shown that there may be a significantly increased risk of pancreatic cancer associated with the use of certain incretin-based medications. Despite these studies, drugmakers continue to market these potentially dangerous drugs throughout the United States. Adults with type 2 diabetes who have taken or are currently taking the medications listed below are at an increased risk of developing pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer.
JANUVIA (SITAGLIPTIN)
Manufactured by Merck, Januvia (generically known as sitagliptin) is advertised as a once-daily prescription medication that assists adults with type 2 diabetes reduce their blood sugar levels. According to the numerous lawsuits against Merck, Merck allegedly failed to sufficiently test Januvia and could not provide adequate risk information to the FDA, healthcare professionals, and patients. In 2009, the FDA revised the prescribing information for Januvia, warning doctors and patients about the increased risk of pancreatitis.
JANUMET (SITAGLIPTIN AND METFORMIN)
Janumet, also manufactured by Merck, is a combination of the drug sitagliptin and metformin. Janumet is promoted as a prescription medication in tablet form for daily use along with diet and exercise to lower blood sugar among adults with type 2 diabetes.
VICTOZA (LIRAGLUTIDE)
Manufactured by Novo Nordisk, Victoza (generically known as liraglutide) is a once-daily injectable medicine to help treat adults with type 2 diabetes by lowering blood sugar levels. Victoza is linked to a higher risk of pancreatitis and the development of medullary thyroid cancer. The FDA has demanded Nova Nordisk complete a 5-year study to analyze the risk of developing certain cancers with long-term use.
BYETTA (EXENATIDE)
Byetta is a once-a-day injectable medicine prescribed to help adults with type 2 diabetes control their blood sugar levels. Amylin Pharmaceuticals manufactures Byetta, also called Exenatide, allegedly failed to test Byetta properly before bringing it to market and then failed to provide enough information to the FDA about the drug's risks.
Pancreatic Cancer Detection and Symptoms
The pancreas is a gland that sits behind your stomach that produces hormones, such as insulin and enzymes that help the body digest food. Since there is currently no recommended routine screening to detect pancreatic cancer, it is often difficult to detect in its early stages and generally spreads very quickly. If you've taken incretin-based medication for your type 2 diabetes, you may be at a higher risk for pancreatitis or pancreatic cancer.
The list below includes the most common possible signs of pancreatic cancer, but these symptoms could also indicate another medical condition. It's recommended to consult with your doctor if you are experiencing the following symptoms and have taken Januvia, Janumet, Byetta, or Victoza:
- Chronic upper abdominal pain that may radiate throughout the back
- Unexplained loss of appetite and sudden weight loss
- Jaundice (yellowing of the eyes and skin)
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Floating stools
- Indigestion
- Feeling depressed
Taking incretin drugs such as Januvia, Janumet, Byetta, and Victoza for type 2 diabetes could significantly increase your risk for pancreatic cancer. At Grimes Teich Anderson, we don't want to see anyone suffer from this terrible form of cancer, especially at the hands of negligent and deceptive drug manufacturers.
Your Rights Under The Law
If you or a loved one has taken one of the diabetes drugs mentioned above and developed pancreatic cancer or other side effects, you may be able to receive compensation for the damages you suffered. Product liability law allows consumers harmed by dangerous or defective drugs to hold drug manufacturers liable for the harm the drug caused them. Several types of damages may arise in product liability cases. Compensatory damages may include:
- Current, past, and future medical and healthcare expenses
- Hospital bills
- Lost wages
- Loss of future earnings
- Household renovations cost to accommodate the loss of mobility
- Funeral and burial costs
- Additionally, you may collect non-economic damages, including pain, suffering, mental anguish, emotional distress, and anxiety.
Over a thousand lawsuits have been filed across the country against the drugmakers of Januvia, Janumet, Byetta, or Victoza. The lawsuits' allegations include faulty formulation, creating drugs with unreasonably dangerous side effects, and failure to provide adequate safety warnings. Such cases not only compensate victims but also raise public awareness about defective and hazardous products.
Free Case Evaluation
If you or a loved one took Januvia, Janumet, Byetta, or Victoza to help manage type 2 diabetes and subsequently suffered pancreatic cancer, pancreatitis, or other diseases affecting the pancreas, contact Grimes Teich Anderson for help. Our dangerous drug lawyers will speak with you for free and answer any questions you have. Call us at 800-533-6845 or by completing our free consultation form online.
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*Each case is different, so not all information on this website, as well as some which may not be provided, will apply to every case. Because the facts and relevant laws are different from case to case, Grimes Teich Anderson does not guarantee that the outcome, results, or experiences with one lawyer or one case will be similar to another.
Except for Employment Law Cases, Attorney's fees are a percentage of the entire recovery and will be deducted before other expenses. In addition to the fee in these cases, Client will be responsible for litigation expenses, which will either be deducted from the recovery or paid by the client. Some Employment Law Cases may be handled on a contingency fee basis and others handled on an hourly basis, where the client is billed for the hours spent on the case. Based on our experience, we will advise you of the most appropriate fee arrangement in Employment Law cases.
Material on this website is for information purposes and is not legal advice.