Sarah Mirando  |  July 11, 2013

Category: Pharmaceuticals

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Januvia Pancreatic Cancer Victim Sues Merck & Co.

By Robert J. Boumis

 

Januvia cancer lawsuitNew York resident Alicia Edwards is suing Merck & Co. and several related businesses over severe injuries allegedly sustained from their diabetes drug Januvia.

Edwards alleges in the Januvia lawsuit, filed June 28 in Southern California, that she developed pancreatic cancer after taking the diabetes drug. The plaintiff took Januvia from April 2009 through June 2011. In August of 2010, Edwards was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer by her physicians. The Januvia cancer lawsuit asserts that Edwards would not have taken Januvia if she had known about the risk of pancreatic cancer associated with the drug.

The Januvia lawsuit states there is substantial research linking Januvia with pancreatic cancer. The complaint cites a study, published in the February 2011 issue of the peer-reviewed medical journal Gastroenterology by Elashoff et al, which used the FDA’s Adverse Event Reporting System (AERS) to analyze the outcomes of patients taking various diabetes drugs.

Per the report, it was found that patients taking Januvia and related drugs caused a 10-fold increase in pancreatitis, a known risk-factor for pancreatic cancer. The researchers also found that patients taking this type of drug had a 2.9-fold increase in their risk of pancreatic cancer.

The Januvia cancer lawsuit goes on to cite additional studies, including epidemiological surveys and animal trials to support the assertion that there is a link between Januvia and pancreatic cancer to counter the assertion made by manufacturers that persons with type -2 diabetes are a population predisposed to pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer.

The Januvia lawsuit asserts that “[Merck and others] willfully, wantonly, and with malice withheld the knowledge of increased risk of pancreatic cancer in users of Januvia to prevent any chances of their product’s registration being delayed or rejected by FDA.” The lawsuit further alleges that the defendants continued to aggressively promote Januvia and related drugs despite mounting evidence of their danger.

Edwards’s lawsuit holds that the manufacturers of Januvia are liable because they failed to adequately warn patients, manufactured a potentially-lethal and defective drug, and were negligent in distributing it. She is seeking damages for medical expenses, lost wages/earning capacity, attorney fees, and punitive damages.

The Januvia Pancreatic Cancer Lawsuit case is Alicia Edwards v. Merck & Co. Inc., et al., Case No. 13-cv-1505 JLS BGS, U.S. District Court, Southern District of California.

 

If you, like Ms. Edwards, have found yourself with serious complications after taking Januvia or related drugs, you may feel daunted and intimidated. Serious illness, like pancreatitis or cancer can completely change your life, forcing you to rearrange your live around the disease. But you need to remember that you still have rights, and there are steps that you can take to regain control over yours situation. You can start by visiting the Type 2 Diabetes Drugs Januvia, Byetta Class Action Lawsuit Investigation. Here, you can enter information about your situation for a free review by a Januvia attorney with a background in this type of legal situation. If you qualify, you will receive free guidance on the best legal steps to take in your particular situation.

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Updated July 11th, 2013

 

All medical device, dangerous drug and medical class action and lawsuit news updates are listed in the Drug and Medical Device section of Top Class Actions.

 

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