Onglyza (saxagliptin) is a type-2 diabetes treatment drug, belonging to a group of diabetes medications called incretin mimetics, which work by imitating incretin hormones, which are vital to diabetes patients as they naturally increase the body’s insulin production.

Ongylza was released in 2009 as a joint effort by AstraZeneca and Bristol-Myers Squibb and became a top selling drug by 2011.

Unfortunately, this drug has been linked to a variety of severe complications, with pancreatic cancer and other problems related to the pancreas being some of the most prevalent concerns.

Overview of Onglyza Side Effects

Recent studies have suggested that side effects of Onglyza side effects pancreatitis in many patients, with more serious cases forming into pancreatic cancer. One of the most recent inquiries was published in the medical journal Diabetes in March 2013, where researchers conducted pancreas examinations on 20 deceased diabetes patients.

Eight of these patients were prescribed incretin mimetic diabetes medications, including Onglyza, and were found to have enlarged pancreases. In these cases, the patients exhibited a significantly higher number of beta cells in their pancreases along with significant pre-cancerous cell formation.

In February 2013, researchers at Johns Hopkins found that diabetic patients hospitalized for pancreatitis were twice as likely to have been prescribed an incretin mimetic diabetes medication.

The Diabetes study was published after the FDA released a public warning regarding the alleged link between Onglyza and pancreatic cancer. Patients who start experiencing an adverse symptoms while taking Onglyza are encouraged to consult their physician as soon as possible.

Early symptoms of pancreatic cancer are typically very mild, making latent diagnoses common. Onglyza patients who start experiencing abdominal pain, yellowing skin or eyes, diarrhea, dark urine, and light colored stool should seek medical attention.

Since Onglyza works by signaling the body to create more insulin, the pancreas is directly stimulated. It has been noted that Onglyza may be causing inflammation in the pancreas, which increases the risks of cancer development.

Additionally, cells that are produced in the pancreas could already be pre-cancerous, leaving dangerous possibilities for even benign tumors. Pancreatic cancer is one of the most devastating cancer forms, with long-term prognosis survival rates being very low. Fewer than 5% of patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer survive beyond five years.

Even for those who survive pancreatic cancer, numerous surgeries are often required with patients being forced to live with lifelong complications. Many Onglyza patients who have suffered pancreatic cancer and other Onglyza side effects, complained that AstraZeneca and Bristol-Myers did not fully disclose the risks associated with their product.

Legal Help For Onglyza Patients

Specialized legal experts are calling on former or current Onglyza patients to consider taking legal action against manufacturing companies AstraZeneca and Bristol-Myers.

Patients who have suffered severe Onglyza side effects, like pancreatic cancer, may be able to seek compensation from the pharmaceutical companies that failed to protect them against drug injuries.