Side effects of Onglyza (saxagliptin) have become a widespread concern in the United States, especially with their recent association with heart failure. A recent study reportedly found a slightly increased risk of heart failure spurring some patients into filing legal action against manufacturers Bristol Myers Squibb and AstraZeneca.

One of the most recent lawsuits was filed by a woman from Louisiana, alleging Onglyza caused her to develop heart failure. According to the Onglyza lawsuit, plaintiff Rose W. was prescribed the medication for type-2 diabetes treatment in 2013 and stayed on the treatment regiment until March 2017.

During the course of her treatment, Rose allegedly developed congestive heart failure and has been contending with the condition ever since.

Overview of Onglyza and Congestive Heart Failure

According to the Mayo Clinic, congestive heart failure occurs when the inner cardiac muscle becomes too weak to properly circulate blood, which is often caused by narrow arteries or high blood pressure.

Oftentimes, according to Diabetes Self-Management, patients are recommended to undergo lifestyle changes like diet and exercise to help ease circulation. However, patients with type-2 diabetes face an increased risk of heart failure due to the nature of the disease.

Onglyza is one of many treatment medications available to help counteract type-2 diabetes, belonging to the incretin mimetic family. These medications work by stimulating the production of insulin in the pancreas, which ensures healthy blood sugar levels in the body.

Along with diet and exercise, Onglyza is supposed to help patients live as normal of a life as possible, so its recent association with congestive heart failure is concerning.

An FDA advisory committee urged the agency to require AstraZeneca and Bristol Myers to add heart failure to Onglyza’s warning label in April 2015, after reviewing the results of the recent SAVOR study.

Published in 2013 in the New England Journal of Medicine, SAVOR study participants consisted of 16,492 type-2 diabetes patients. The goal of this study was to help doctors evaluate different type-2 diabetes medications, with researchers finding that Onglyza patients faced a slightly higher risk of hospitalization for heart failure compared to other patients.

While there was a slightly higher statistic with Onglyza patients, it was not considered significant enough to issue major action. However, this has risen concern in the medical community with many medical experts calling for further investigation into the side effects of Onglyza.

Even though this information is vital for patient health, Bristol Myers and AstraZeneca allegedly failed to warn Rose and her physicians. At all times relevant, Rose says she relied on the information provided to her by the companies and had no reason to be wary of any serious side effects of Onglyza.

Rose states she would not have taken the medication, had she known there was a possible increased risk of heart failure. Rose’s Onglyza lawsuit is joining MDL No. 2809, where it will stand alongside other claims alleging similar instances of alleged heart failures.

By joining an MDL, Rose’s claim will be streamlined through the litigation process and will avoid potential problems like conflicting rulings from different judges.

Rose is seeking a multitude of damages in her Onglyza lawsuit, including negligence and failure to warn.

This Onglyza Lawsuit is Case No. 5:19-cv-00026-KKC, in the U.S. District Court of Eastern Kentucky, Central Division at Lexington.