Melissa LaFreniere  |  October 6, 2015

Category: Legal News

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pancreatic-cancer-onglyzaNearly 49,000 patients are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in the U.S. each year.

Risk factors for developing this type of cancer include family history, tobacco use and weight. And a recent study suggests the widely prescribed type-2 diabetes medication Onglyza may also lead to pancreatic cancer.

In an Onglyza study published in the Diabetes Medical Journal, researchers analyzed autopsy reports of diabetic patients and discovered a link between incretin mimetic drugs and pancreatic cancer as well as pancreatitis.

Researchers found that the diabetic patients taking an incretin mimetic drug had pancreases 40 percent larger than normal. They also found precancerous cell growth and tumors within the pancreas.

In addition to this study, John Hopkins researchers have reported that type-2 diabetic patients hospitalized for pancreatitis were twice as likely to be taking an incretin mimetic drug like Onglyza.

However, diabetes has also been known to cause pancreatic cancer so Onglyza manufacturers may argue that it was the medical condition that caused pancreatic cancer and not the diabetes medication.

Onglyza Side Effects

Since its release on the U.S. market, Onglyza has become a common treatment for type-2 diabetes. It has been a very lucrative drug.

In addition to causing pancreas issues, Onglyza has been linked to other serious side effects including thyroid cancer and heart failure.

In a study performed by UCLA, researchers found that an incretin mimetic drug carried a five-times greater risk of patients developing thyroid cancer compared to other diabetes medications.

Another recent study found a connection between heart failure and Onglyza. According to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, researchers analyzed nearly 16,500 type-2 diabetes patients and found that those taking Onglyza had a 27 percent greater risk of heart failure compared to those taking other diabetes medications.

Symptoms of heart failure include:

  • Rapid weight gain
  • Swelling of the abdomen or legs
  • Edema (fluid retention)
  • Fatigue
  • Dyspnea (difficulty breathing or painful breathing)

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2011 issued a safety warning about the increased risk of developing thyroid cancer while taking Onglyza. The federal agency also issued an Onglyza safety warning in April about the increased risk of heart failure.

Onglyza Lawsuits

As more research continues to point to the serious side effects of Onglyza, many type-2 diabetes patients are filing Onglyza lawsuits against manufacturers AstraZeneca and Bristol-Myers Squibb for failing to adequately warn them.

Hundreds of incretin mimetic drug lawsuits have been filed by plaintiffs seeking financial compensation for the medical costs of treating Onglyza side effects as well as the pain and suffering they have endured.

If you experienced one of the life-threatening Onglyza side effects you may be able to file a Onglyza lawsuit. Contact an Onglyza attorney to find out if you have legal claim.

In general, Onglyza lawsuits are filed individually by each plaintiff and are not class actions.

Do YOU have a legal claim? Fill out the form on this page now for a free, immediate, and confidential case evaluation. The attorneys who work with Top Class Actions will contact you if you qualify to let you know if an individual Onglyza lawsuit or Ongylyza class action lawsuit is best for you. Hurry — statutes of limitations may apply.

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Join a Free Onglyza Lawsuit Investigation

If you or a loved one were injured from Onglyza side effects such as heart failure, thyroid cancer or pancreatic cancer, you may have a legal claim. See if you qualify to pursue compensation and join a free Onglyza lawsuit investigation by submitting your information for a free case evaluation.

An attorney will contact you if you qualify to discuss the details of your potential case.

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Please note: Top Class Actions is not a settlement administrator or law firm. Top Class Actions is a legal news source that reports on class action lawsuits, class action settlements, drug injury lawsuits and product liability lawsuits. Top Class Actions does not process claims and we cannot advise you on the status of any class action settlement claim. You must contact the settlement administrator or your attorney for any updates regarding your claim status, claim form or questions about when payments are expected to be mailed out.