Colo. Woman Files Januvia-Byetta Wrongful Death Lawsuit

Mrs. Anderson did not know until recently that the type-2 diabetes medications that her husband took were responsible for his pancreatic cancer.

Januvia and Byetta are in a class of diabetes medications called dipeptidul petidase- 4 (DPP-4) inhibitors, also known as incretin memetics. They work by helping to control blood sugar for those suffering from type-2 diabetes by increasing the production of insulin and stopping the pancreas from releasing too much glucagon–hormones that are key to metabolizing glucose as well as maintaining a steady glucose level in the blood.

In February 2010, it was published in the medical journal Diabetes Care that this new class of type-2 diabetes medications, including Januvia, may cause pancreatic cancer. There “is preliminary evidence to suggest the potential risks of asymptomtic chronic pancreatitis and, with time, pancreatic cancer” was linked to these DPP-4 inhibitors, the article said. More information with similar warnings began to surface in the following years.

In 2011, another study found that for Januvia patients, pancreatitis was reported more than six-fold, according to information researchers gathered from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Pancreatitis is the inflammation of the pancreas which puts a person at much greater risk of developing pancreatic cancer. The same study found that the pancreatic cancer rate was more than almost three-fold more common among Januvia patients compared to diabetes patients who used other therapies.

The FDA said in March that it is reviewing previously unpublished research that showed a link between precancerous cellular changes. The federal agency is expected to require that drugmakers Merck and others who make similar diabetes medications to update the warning labels to reflect the pancreatic cancer risk.

Mrs. Anderson is alleging that Mr. Anderson’s pancreatic cancer is the “direct and proximate result of the [Merck’s and Eli Lilly’s] negligent and wrongful conduct in connection with the design, development, manufacture, testing, packaging, promoting, marketing, distribution, labeling and/or sale of [Januvia and Byetta].” Her charges against the two pharmaceutical giants include failure to warn, design defect, negligence, breach of implied and express warranty, negligent misrepresentation, fraudulent concealment, and loss of companionship.

Mrs. Anderson is suing for punitive damages, medical expenses, funeral expenses, and other economic damages.

The Januvia-Byetta Lawsuit was filed on Oct. 7, Case No. 3:13-cv-02394-AJB-MDD, in the U.S. District Court in the Southern District of California.

If you or someone you know has suffered from pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, thyroid cancer or other serious side effects as a result of taking the Januvia type-2 diabetes drug, legal options are available to you. Learn more and get a free consultation regarding a claim’s eligibility at the Type 2 Diabetes Drugs Januvia, Byetta Class Action Lawsuit Investigation. Experienced legal professionals have access to medical experts to assess whether or not this type 2 diabetes medication played a role in your illness, so act now.