Incretin mimetic type-2 diabetes drugs like Onglyza are considered to be effective as glucose-lowering agents for diabetic patients. However, the medical community has become concerned with the long-term risks of using these drugs because of the risk of developing pancreatic cancer.

The human body naturally produces incretin, a hormone responsible for telling the body to release insulin after eating a meal in order to lower an individual’s blood sugar. Incretin mimetic type-2 diabetes treatments like Onglyza copy the effects of incretin on the human body.

These type-2 diabetes treatments achieve this mimicry by:

• Signaling the pancreas to release insulin when blood sugar rises
• Stopping the pancreas from releasing excessive amounts of glucagon, the human hormone that signals the liver to release stored blood into an individual’s bloodstream
• Aiding in slowing the rate at which the stomach empties after a meal

Because of these features, incretin mimetic drugs help type-2 diabetes patients keep their blood sugar in the target range without other side effects like weight gain and low blood sugar. This group of type-2 diabetes treatments are ideal for people who maintain an active lifestyle and eat a healthy diet.

Onglyza was approved as a type-2 diabetes treatment in 2009 and since found success in pharmaceutical markets within the United States and abroad. In addition to Onglyza (also known as saxagliptin), other incretin mimetic drugs include Byetta, Victoza, Januvia, Nesina, Tradjenta, and more.

Onglyza Pancreatic Cancer Risks

While Onglyza and other incretin mimetic drugs provide health benefits for type-2 diabetes patients, they also pose serious health risks. According to recent reports, Onglyza side effects may include pancreatic cancer.

One of the first type-2 diabetes drug pancreatic cancer studies was published in the March 2013 issue of the Diabetes journal, documenting the pancreatic lesions present in eight organ donors who used incretin mimetic therapies to manage type-2 diabetes when compared to patients taking other forms of anti-diabetic drugs.

Additionally, the British Medical Journal published an article concerning the link between incretin mimetic therapies and the development of pancreatic cancer and how the pharmaceutical industry downplays the pancreatic cancer risk to patients and prescribing doctors. The journal also suggests regulators like the FDA and the European Medicines Agency have not acted aggressively enough against the alleged incretin mimetic side effects misrepresentation by the pharmaceutical companies.

In 2013, the FDA and the EMA both launched separate incretin mimetic drug safety reviews, but allegedly found little evidence linking the use of incretin mimetic drugs with the development of pancreatic cancer. However, critics claim that these type-2 diabetes drugs are risky.

Since then, hundreds of incretin mimetic drug lawsuits have been filed against diabetic drug manufacturers including the makers of Onglyza.