A Minnesota man says that taking Onglyza caused him to develop congestive heart failure and aims to hold the drugs’ makers accountable for his injuries.

Plaintiff Walter H. says that he was prescribed Onglyza or Kombiglyze XR and took the drugs between Dec. 19, 2015 and May 2018. He says that he took the drugs to help lower his blood sugar and treat his type-2 diabetes. Allegedly, Walker developed congestive heart failure, heart attack and cardiovascular injuries that he says were caused by his use of the drug.

Walter aims to hold the drugs’ makers liable for his injuries, saying that they knew or should have known that the drugs could increase a patient’s risk for heart problems. He claims the drug’s makers, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Astrazeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, and McKesson Corporation sold the drugs and marketed them as safe and effective despite knowledge that they could have severe side effects.

Walter argues that had he known that the drugs could cause him to have a heart attack and other cardiac problems, he would not have taken the drugs. Allegedly, the drug companies unjustly enriched themselves by marketing the drugs as safe and effective.

Walter notes that Onglyza and Kombiglyze XR are two brand names for the drug saxagliptin, which is a drug that is used to treat type-2 diabetes by helping to lower blood sugar.
The drugs reportedly help to lower blood sugar by stopping the production of an enzyme that stops insulin. Stopping this enzyme then allegedly allows insulin to remain active much longer than it would after a person eats a meal.

The Onglyza lawsuit notes that people with type-2 diabetes already have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, “which is the leading cause of mobility and morality in the patient population.” The Onglyza heart problems lawsuit then goes on to say that it is critical that drugs developed to help manage type-2 diabetes do not increase the risk of cardiovascular adverse events in users.

Allegedly, the drug makers knew or should have known that diabetes patients already have an elevated risk of heart problems, and knew that a drug used to treat diabetes should not put these patients at an additionally elevated risk for heart problems.
According to Walter, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company and others failed to effectively assess the metabolic effects of enabling insulin production to continue long after it would have naturally stopped. This allegedly helps to lower blood sugar in diabetes patients whose ability to produce insulin has been reduced. 

“At no time during the development of its Saxagliptin drugs did [the makers] perform adequate studies to determine if their drug, and its drastic alterations of the natural incretin hormone cycle, may cause increased risks of cardiovascular related adverse events,” the complaint reads.

 Walter argues that the drug makers’ negligence and failure to effectively analyze the risk associated with their drugs put him and other patients at risk for injury.

The Onglyza Heart Failure Lawsuit is Case No. 5:19-cv-00055-KKC, in the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas.