Side effects of Onglyza, a popular diabetes medication, may be linked to serious injury and even death.

Onglyza (saxagliptin) is an incretin mimetic drug which is used to help patients with diabetes maintain healthy blood sugar levels by promoting the production of insulin by the pancreas.

Unfortunately, Onglyza, along with other incretin mimetic drugs such as Januvia, Victoza, and Byetta, may increase a patient’s risk of developing pancreatic cancer, thyroid cancer, heart failure and other potentially fatal health issues.

Onglyza Side Effects

Onglyza was approved by the FDA in 2009 to help patients with type-2 diabetes maintain healthy blood sugar levels. Though the class of drugs to which Onglyza belongs, incretin mimetics, is relatively new and still under evaluation, Onglyza and similar drugs have already been linked to a number of alarming side effects, including:

Onglyza Pancreatic Cancer

Onglyza and other incretin mimetic diabetes medications have been linked to an increased risk of pancreatic cancer, the fourth-deadliest form of cancer in the United States.

The medical journal Diabetes published a study in March 2013, stating researchers found that the pancreases studied in autopsies of 20 diabetics (8 of whom used Onglyza) were 40% larger than normal. They also found increased beta cells in theses patients’ pancreases, as well as “eccentric” pre-cancerous growth and pre-cancerous tumors called adenomas.

In response to this and other studies linking Onglyza to pancreatic cancer, the FDA issued a safety communication later that month to announce a thorough investigation into this potentially fatal Onglyza side effect.

Onglyza Thyroid Cancer

Multiple studies are currently underway to investigate the link between Onglyza and thyroid cancer, as other drugs in the incretin mimetic class have been associated with this disease. In 2009, concerns led the FDA to order the makers of Januvia, another incretin mimetic, to find out more about a potential thyroid cancer side effect.

The FDA also published a safety communication in 2011 to warn consumers after another incretin mimetic Victoza was linked to a heightened rate of thyroid tumors in rodents. Byetta, also an incretin mimetic, has also been shown to raise the risk of a thyroid cancer diagnosis.

Onglyza Heart Failure

A recent study funded by Bristol-Myers Squibb, the maker of Onglyza, found that patients who use Onglyza to help control their blood sugar show a higher rate of hospitalizations for heart failure. While the link between Onglyza and heart failure is still under investigation, many doctors and experts have expressed grave concern about this Onglyza side effect.

Onglyza Lawsuits

If you or someone you love has been injured or suffered a wrongful death as a result of Onglyza side effects, you may be owed substantial financial compensation for damages such as medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.