Ohio Woman Blames Januvia, Janumet for Husband’s Death

Ohio plaintiff Judith Stocker is suing Merck & Co. for the wrongful death of her husband, Charles Stocker. Judith alleges that her husband developed pancreatic cancer as a result of ingesting the diabetes medications Januvia and Janumet, which ultimately led to his death.

According to the Januvia lawsuit, Judith’s husband was first prescribed Januvia and Janumet in January 2009 to help manage his type-2 diabetes symptoms. The decedent had been taking the medication routinely, following the directions of his physician and the prescription’s label. However, on Aug. 17, 2011, Charles was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He continued to take the medications until his death on Nov. 7, 2011.

It was not until after Charles’ death that the plaintiff learned of the association Janumet and Januvia had with pancreatic cancer. According to the Januvia lawsuit, she had not been informed by Merck, nor had there been any indications or language on the drugs’ warning labels to indicate such occurrences. The plaintiff states that Merck had the obligation to warn her and husband of this side effect because they had been relying in the information given to them by the company. Judith says that her husband never would have taken either of the medications if he knew about the potential side effects.

The Januvia lawsuit accuses Merck of manufacturing, selling, distributing, and marketing a dangerous drug. The charges include negligence, false advertising, concealing information, and misrepresenting a product.

Overview of Janumet/Januvia Complications

Januvia was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Authority (FDA) on Oct. 16, 2006 as a type-2 diabetes treatment drug, which would help patients manage the symptoms of their condition. Janumet was approved on March 30, 2007 to be the successor drug of Januvia. Across the United States, both of these drugs have been incredibly popular, with Janumet bringing in $1.3 billion in sales in 2011 and Januvia earning $1.977 in the first two quarters in 2012. Both patients and medical experts have praised these medications for their efficiency in their purpose, and have only recently become concerned about the possible side effects associated with the drugs.

Januvia and Janumet are part of a recently-approved class of therapeutic drugs meant to treat type-2 diabetes, called dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors. These drugs work by signaling incretins in the body to produce more insulin, which helps prevent diabetic attacks. While these drugs have been used for less than a decade, they have already been associated with major complications, including pancreatic cancer.

The most recent Januvia study was published on June 10, 2013 in the British Medical Journal, and revealed that the manufacturers of incretin mimetics drugs, including Januvia and Janumet, may have known about the side effects, but did not adequately address the risks. The study showed that patients who had taken these drugs had a much higher likelihood of developing pancreatic cancer when compared to patients who had taken other treatment drugs.

Despite the severity of these implications, neither Januvia nor Janumet currently address the risk of pancreatic cancer on their labels. This marketing decision has garnered mass criticism from the FDA, and incited large litigation movement against Merck & Co. Stocker is one of those seeking legal justice for her loss, currently seeking damages for pain and suffering, medical compensation, and other punitive charges. This case is still pending.

This Januvia lawsuit is Judith Stocker v. Merck & Co., Case No. 3:13-cv-02684-AJB-MDD, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California.

Help for Diabetes Drug Cancer Victims

If you or a loved one took a diabetes drug such as Januvia, Byetta, Victoza or Bydureon and were diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, you may be able to take legal action against the drug’s manufacturer. Filing a Januvia, lawsuit, Byetta lawsuit, Victoza lawsuit or Bydureon lawsuit may help you recover  compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering and other damages. Learn more and obtain a free case evaluation by filling out the short form at the Type 2 Diabetes Drugs Januvia, Byetta, Victoza Class Action Lawsuit Investigation.