Manufactured by Bristol-Myers Squibb, Onglyza was approved by the FDA in 2009 and is a part of the incretin mimetic drug family.

Incretin mimetic drugs help the body regulate blood sugar levels by encouraging insulin production in the pancreas. Even though this drug has been a successful treatment regimen for many patients, a number of other patients have reportedly developed thyroid cancer from Onglyza and other incretin mimetic medications.

Patients who face both conditions may find it difficult to manage the treatments of both the thyroid and diabetes conditions.

Cancer of the Thyroid and Diabetes Medications

In 2009, the FDA had asked pharmaceutical giant Amylin Pharmaceuticals to “explore the potential signal of serious risk of thyroid cancer and pancreatic cancer” in regards to their own mimetic incretin Byetta (Exenatide).

Two years later in 2011, the medical journal Gastroenterology  published a study alleging linking Januvia (Sitagliptin) and Byetta to dozens of thyroid cancer reports.

Many critics who have observed the growing number of thyroid cancer diabetes patients state that there was not enough drug safety information available upon their debut in 2006.

This means that there was very little information regarding the long term side effects of these drugs at the time of their approval, including the possibility of patients contending with conditions concerning the thyroid and diabetes medical managment.

What Causes Thyroid Cancer?

As indicated above, Onglyza patients could possibly discover that thyroid and diabetes health concerns are not mutually exclusive. This has spurred many patients to ask the question: What causes thyroid cancer?

Thyroid cancer occurs when cells in the thyroid mutate into cancer cells, which can accumulate and form a tumor.  The cancerous cells may also invade nearby tissue and may disseminate throughout the body.

While experts are unsure as to what causes thyroid cancer, risk factors for developing the disease include: genetic vulnerability, being female, and being exposed to high levels of radiation.

This condition can be particularly devastating to patients, as even with having the thyroid removed, the cancer can return. This is because if the thyroid is removed too late, microscopic cancer cells may have already spread beyond the thyroid before its extraction.

Thyroid cancer recurrence is most common after the first five years of surgery, but can resurface decades later. Onglyza patients who have to contend with the thyroid cancer diabetes medications may have prompted are subject to constant blood tests and screening for cancer cells.

It is currently unknown as to why Onglyza and other incretin mimetics may be inducing the thyroid cancer diabetes medication link, but many speculate it is linked to the drug’s treatment mechanism. Upon their release, incretin mimetics were considered breakthrough drugs due how they filtered excess sugar from patients.

Onglyza works by reducing the amount of glucagon secreted from the pancreas, which stops the liver from producing too much glucose. Patients who want to ensure health of the thyroid and diabetes management while using Onglyza should consult their physician and are encouraged to be vigilant to any symptoms of thyroid cancer including:

• Voice Changes
• Neck Swelling
• Respiratory Problems
• Difficulty Swallowing
• Enlarged Lymph Nodes

Patients who are contending with cancer of the thyroid and diabetes problems that prompted the use of Onglyza may be eligible to file a lawsuit against Bristol-Myers Squibb. Potential claimants should contact a specialized lawyer as soon as possible to see if they qualify to file legal action.