Saxagliptin is in the diabetes medications Onglyza and Kombiglyze XR, and its use has been recently implicated in putting patients at higher risk for heart failure.

The difference between Onglyza and Kombiglize XR is that the latter is a combination of a more traditional diabetes control medicine—metformin—with saxagliptin.

Both Onglyza and Kombiglyze XR are made, promoted, and distributed by the Bristol Myers-Squibb and Astro-Zeneca Companies. Onglyza and Kombiglyze XR were approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in July 2009 and November 2010, respectively.

The two drugs were to be prescribed for the treatment of type-2 diabetes—which is an adult onset variety of the disease—and were ideally to be used in combination with a healthy diet and exercise regimen.

Onglyza and Kombiglyze XR work by encouraging the pancreas to produce insulin, a hormone which naturally lowers levels of glucose in the blood. In diabetics, the pancreas does not perform its insulin production activities at an optimal level, allowing for blood levels to rise to dangerous levels.

Onglyza and Kombiglyze XR are part of a class of medications identified as incretin mimetics for their insulin stimulating effects.

Bristol Myers-Squibb and Astro-Zeneca funded a study whose results were published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2013. The goal of undertaking the study was to assist physicians in their determination of appropriate medicinal treatment.

The study, known as SAVOR, ended up revealing a slight increase in hospitalization rate for heart failure in patients taking either of the saxagliptin-based drugs. Heart failure, which can also involve fluid building up around the cardiac muscle, is a condition where the muscle of the heart is so weak that it fails to pump enough blood to meet the body’s demands.

After reviewing the results of this study in 2015, a committee that advised the FDA to require the two cooperating pharmaceutical companies to post a warning on Onglyza and Kombiglyze XR’s label about the potential for heart-related incidents. This advisement was heeded, and the new warning label was placed on the drugs effective April 2016.

For those that have experienced serious, life-threatening cardiac events while on either of these two medications, this warning comes too late. If you or a loved one have been hospitalized and suffered serious cardiac injury or even wrongful death because of treatment with saxagliptin for type-2 diabetes, you may be entitled to compensation from the Bristol Myers-Squibb and Astro-Zeneca.

Medical product liability lawyers are currently looking into cases involving treatment with these two diabetes treatment drugs and subsequent cardiac problems. Patients who have experienced heart failure after taking Onglyza or Kombiglye XR may qualify for a free consultation.