A woman filed a saxagliptin lawsuit against Bristol-Myers Squibb Company and AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP over adverse side effects and complications she suffered from taking the type-2 diabetes drug.

Plaintiff Jean W. is filing the saxagliptin lawsuit in Missouri federal court. The lawsuit was filed on Sept. 18, 2018.

According to the saxagliptin lawsuit, Jean is a resident and citizen of Saint Joseph, Mo. She says that she began taking Kombiglyze XR between April 2014 and January 2018 as part of her diabetes treatment plan. However, as a result of taking the medication, she suffered serious and permanent injuries including congestive heart failure, the saxagliptin lawsuit states.

Jean says that her injuries have included “significant bodily and mental injuries, pain and suffering, mental anguish, disfigurement, embarrassment, inconvenience, loss of earnings and earning capacity and have and will incur past and future medical expenses, “the saxagliptin lawsuit states.

The lawsuit alleges that while the drug makers had knowledge of the side effects linked to saxaglptin and its link to congestive heart failure, cardiac failure, heart failure, and other events, they continued to sell and manufacture the drug, placing revenue and profit above patient and consumer safety.

“Despite such knowledge, Defendants knowingly, purposely and deliberately failed to adequately warn Plaintiff, patients, consumers, medical providers and the public of the increased risk of serious injury associated with using Onglyza and saxagliptin,” the lawsuit claims.

Jean also says that had her physician known of the adverse side effects linked to the medication he would have never prescribed it to her to begin with. She says that her physicians were unaware of the “true degree” of adverse side effects and complications linked to the medication.

The saxagliptin lawsuit was filed on multiple counts including strict products liability, negligence, failure to warn, breach of warranty of merchantability, breach of express warranty, breach of implied warranty, Missouri merchandising practices act, and request for punitive damages.

Overview: Saxagliptin Lawsuit

Onlgyza (saxagliptin) was approved as a type-2 diabetes medication in 2009. Manufactured by Bristol Myers-Squibb, it contains an active known ingredient known as saxagliptin. Saxagliptin is a DPP-4 inhibitor that breaks down GLP-1, a hormone, that is released to aid with food digestion. It’s also a component of the combination drug Kombiglyze XR.

As Onglyza is ingested, it helps inhibit DPP-4 from breaking down GLP-1, thus allowing the pancreas to release insulin after the body’s ingestion of food.

However, a recent U.S. Food and Drug (FDA) announcement was made noting Onglyza’s heart failure risks and other adverse side effects and complications.

According to the report, “a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) safety review has found that type-2 diabetes medicines containing saxagliptin and alogliptin may increase the risk of heart failure, particularly in patients who already have heart or kidney disease.”

The FDA asked physicians and healthcare providers to carefully monitor their patients while watch for signs of any of these complications and side effects.

The Saxagliptin Lawsuit is Case No. 5:18-cv-06140-SRB, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri, St. Joseph Division.