Husband Blames Januvia for Wife’s Pancreatic Cancer

By TopClassActions | October 7, 2013

Category: Pharmaceuticals

By Jessica Tyner

Clarence Duff lost his wife of many years to pancreatic cancer — and he’s fighting back with a Januvia lawsuit.

The Januvia lawsuit was filed on September 25, 2013, after his wife, Bunny Duff, lost her life to pancreatic cancer which he alleges was caused by Januvia and Janumet. Both of these drugs are designed to treat type-2 diabetes, one of the most common and fastest-growing diseases in the United States. However, Januvia has also been linked to pancreatic issues including cancer.

Pancreatic cancer has an exceptionally high mortality rate of nearly 94 percent. Most people die within six months of diagnosis.

In his Januvia pancreatic cancer lawsuit, the Tennessee man claims that Bunny “was prescribed and used Janumet beginning in or about 26 February 2010 and continued said use through at least December 2011 and other possible dates. Decedent was prescribed and used Januvia beginning in or about December 2011 and other possible dates. On or about November 23, 2011, Decedent suffered severe physical, economic and emotional injuries as a result of said Drugs, including but not limited to Decedent being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.”

Research has been conducted highlighting the link between Januvia and pancreatic cancer. However, Clarence claims that the makers of the drugs, Merck & Co., didn’t include adequate warnings even after the research was published.

“These researchers reported that pancreatitis, inflammation of the pancreas, was >6-fold more frequently reported in patients prescribed Januvia and Janumet (and other DPP-4 inhibitors). Both these associations were statistically significant,” the Januvia lawsuit states. Instead, Merck & Co. has allegedly tried to slip around the evidence.

“The manufacturers of Januvia and Janumet have suggested that the most likely reason for the apparent association between the use of these Drugs and acute pancreatitis is the increased risk of pancreatitis in patients with type-2 diabetes,” Duff says in his Januvia lawsuit.

Bunny’s husband says that had his wife known of the risks, she would never have selected Januvia to treat her diabetes when there are so many other effective treatments available. In his Januvia lawsuit, Duff claims: “Defendants concealed their knowledge that Januvia and Janumet, can cause life threatening pancreatic cancer from Decedent, other consumers, the general public, and the medical community. Indeed, the manufacturers of Januvia and Janumet do not even mention ‘pancreatic cancer’ in their drugs’ respective product inserts.”

Like patients, doctors look at warning labels to make the best decisions for their patients. If drug companies aren’t honest about the risks, physicians are often just as blind as the patients.

In his Januvia pancreatic cancer lawsuit, Duff argues that Merck was aware of the risk of pancreatic cancer but chose to ignore it — making a number of people pay the ultimate price to treat their diabetes.

“With the knowledge of the true relationship between use of Januvia and Janumet and pancreatic cancer, rather than taking steps to pull the drugs off the market or provide strong warnings, Defendants promoted and continue to promote Januvia and Janumet as a safe and effective treatment for adults with type-2 diabetes,” reads his Januvia lawsuit.

A Husband in Mourning

According to Duff’s Januvia lawsuit, Bunny spent the last months of her life suffering “from severe and personal injuries, which were permanent and lasting in nature, including death, physical pain, and mental anguish, including diminished enjoyment of life, as well as the need for medical treatment, monitoring and/or medications.”

He claims Bunny “did not have the same knowledge as Defendants and no adequate warning or other clinically relevant information and data was communicated to Decedent or to Decedent’s treating physicians. The warnings that were given by the Defendants were not accurate, clear, and/or were ambiguous or incomplete.”

Duff is suing Merck & Co. for failure to warn, design defect, negligence, breach of warranty, negligent misrepresentation, fraudulent concealment, loss of consortium and punitive damages.

The Januvia pancreatic cancer lawsuit is Clarence Duff v. Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., Case No. 3:13-cv-02299-AJB-MDD, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California.

Were You or a Loved One Hurt by Januvia?

Were you or someone you know diagnosed with a pancreatic issue after taking Januvia or a similar diabetes drug? If so, you may have a legal claim. Find out more at the Type 2 Diabetes Drugs Januvia, Byetta, Victoza Class Action Lawsuit Investigation today. After you submit your information, an attorney will be in touch with you if you have a case for a free Januvia claim review.

All medical device, dangerous drug and medical class action and lawsuit news updates are listed in the Drug and Medical Device section of Top Class Actions.

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