The diabetes medication Onglyza has been linked to serious side effects, including pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic cancer, which can allegedly be caused by Onglyza, is one of the most aggressive and deadliest forms of cancer, and can show up in one of two forms. Exocrine cancer, the more common variant, where the tumors grow in the internal ducts that carry digestive juices that are produced by the pancreas. The more rare form, endocrine cancer, which attacks the cells the produce hormones like insulin.

In 2013, the National Cancer Institute had estimated that more than 45,000 Americans would have been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, with more than 38,000 would die from it. Due to the fact that pancreatic cancer does not produce any symptoms in the early stages, diagnosis is often discovered at a latent stage.

Patients who experience the symptoms of yellowing skin or eyes, abdominal or back pain, weight loss, and fatigue, are encouraged to consult their physicians immediately.

While it is currently unknown what causes pancreatic cancer, medical experts warn that diabetes does increase the chances of pancreatic cancer. There are several diagnostic tests that can be performed for pancreatic cancer including: blood tests, image test, and biopsy of the tumors.

The treatment options for pancreatic cancer often include chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery.

Overview of Onglyza Pancreatic Cancer Complications

Onglyza (Saxagliptin) was approved by the FDA in 2009 to be a treatment measure of type-2 diabetes, in patients who do not suffer diabetic ketoacidosis.

It is manufactured by pharmaceutical giant, Bristol-Myers Squibb, who has made hundreds of millions of dollars from their drug’s prescriptions. By 2018, annual sales are expected to rise to $2.47 billion. Its popularity stems from the fact that it controls blood sugar levels while not causing weight gain.

Onglyza is a part of the drug family, DPP-4 inhibitors, which is a naturally-occurring enzyme that breaks down an incretin hormone, called GLP-1. This hormone is released into the blood after the patient eats, which starts the process of making insulin.

Patients suffering from type-2 diabetes, GLP-1 production is severely reduced, which causes the pancreas to under-produce insulin, which results in elevated blood-sugar levels. Essentially, Onglyza works by signaling the pancreas to manufacture insulin after meals, which prevents diabetic attacks.

Ideally, Onglyza and other DPP-4 inhibitors would allow diabetic patients to live a relatively normal life, if used alongside exercise and a healthy diet.

While DPP-4 inhibitors remain vastly popular despite all the devastating alleged side effects of pancreatic cancer, it has reportedly left some patients and doctors reluctant to prescribe Onglyza.

Despite the severity of these complications, it is not mentioned it on the Onglyza warning label, nor has the FDA issued any public warning.