Type-2 diabetes is one of the greatest health concerns of the 21st century, with millions affected throughout the United States.
Given the number of patients that have to contend with this condition, it is troubling to know that these patients may also be suffering from a number of severe side effects from new diabetes medications.
More specifically, the drugs Onglyza and Kombiglyze have been recently linked to pancreatic cancer, heart failure, and thyroid cancer.
Onglyza and Kombiglyze were approved by 2009 and 2010 and are manufactured by AstraZeneca and Bristol-Myers Squibb respectively, with both of them approved to treat type-2 diabetes. Combined with diet and exercise, these new diabetes medications are meant to help patients maintain their blood sugar levels and prevent insulin shock.
Onglyza and Kombiglyze both contain the same active ingredient, saxagliptin, with Kombiglyze being a combination drug also containing meformin, and both have gained significant popularity for their unique treatment mechanisms. Unlike most diabetic medications, Onglyza does not encourage weight gain, which propagated its popularity in diabetes treatment choice.
Kombiglyze quickly gained traction, and has become just as well known as its earlier cousin. These new diabetes medications are a part of the incretin mimetic drug family called DPP-4 inhibitors. These medications trigger the pancreas to produce more insulin, and to stop the liver making too much sugar.
Upon their release, medical experts called them the “new darlings of diabetes treatment,” with many considering them as the biggest breakthrough since insulin was discovered. However, concern has risen over the number of injury reports indicating heart failure, pancreatic cancer, and thyroid cancer.
Overview of New Diabetes Medications Side Effects
There been concern of these medication side effects for several years, before the FDA brought their Onglyza concerns to light in 2015. The agency announced that Onglyza could potentially cause heart failure in diabetes patients, after reviewing a 2013 study of 16,492 patients.
The study found that patients experienced a significantly higher risk of heart failure while taking Onglyza. Dr. Anthony DeMaria, editor in chief of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology stated that Onglyza should not be given to patients with cardiac conditions.
Since Kombiglyze contains the same active ingredient as Onglyza, experts warn that it could carry the same risks. Most notably, these new diabetes drugs have been accused of causing precancerous cells to grow in the pancreas. A 2013 a study found that autopsied pancreases of patients taking incretin mimetic drugs were more likely to have to pancreatic cancer.
The increased risk of pancreatic cancer is suspected to be due to the fact that these new diabetes medications directly interact with the pancreas to signal insulin production. The FDA has also raised concern over the possibility of thyroid cancer because the agency has seen a major correlation between the condition and older incretin mimetics Januvia and Byetta.
While Onglyza and Kombiglyze have not been definitively linked to thyroid cancer, heart failure, or thyroid cancer, doctors are now being warned against these potential side effects. Despite the severity of these complications, the manufacturers allegedly omitted this information to protect the market values of the drugs.
Patients who were prescribed these medications and suffered these side effects may be eligible to file a product liability lawsuit. Potential claimants should contact a specialized lawyer to determine if they qualify for legal action.
In general, Onglyza lawsuits are filed individually by each plaintiff and are not class actions.
Do YOU have a legal claim? Fill out the form on this page now for a free, immediate, and confidential case evaluation. The attorneys who work with Top Class Actions will contact you if you qualify to let you know if an individual Onglyza lawsuit or Ongylyza class action lawsuit is best for you. Hurry — statutes of limitations may apply.
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If you or a loved one were injured from Onglyza side effects such as heart failure, thyroid cancer or pancreatic cancer, you may have a legal claim. See if you qualify to pursue compensation and join a free Onglyza lawsuit investigation by submitting your information for a free case evaluation.
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