Lawsuit Alleges Byetta Caused Thyroid Cancer in Young Woman

Plaintiff Elizabeth Childress, 23, alleges in the Byetta thyroid cancer lawsuit that she had taken Byetta for several years before she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2011. According to her complaint, Amylin and Eli Lilly were aware that Byetta was associated with thyroid cancer but failed to warn about this risk. Their failure to warn put numerous patients in significant danger, her lawsuit alleges.

FDA Investigating Byetta and Januvia Cancer Risk

Currently, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) is evaluating the potential link between Januvia and Byetta and precancerous cellular development. While these drugs have been linked to pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer, an increasing number of patients have developed Byetta or Januvia thyroid cancer. A study from the University of California Los Angeles has indicated that Januvia may increase the risk of thyroid cancer by as much as 48 percent.

Byetta and Januvia Thyroid Cancer Lawsuits on the Rise

Byetta (exenatide) and Januvia (sitagliptin) belong to a class of drugs known as incretin mimetics. Incretin mimetics are used to regulate the blood sugar levels in patients who have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Incretin mimetics have been linked to thyroid cancer, pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. These Byetta and Januvia side effects may be life-threatening.

Some studies have shown that the link between incretin mimetics and thyroid cancer may have been recognized as early as 2008. However, the labels of these drugs have not been updated to include the risks. As a result, many people who have developed Byetta and Januvia thyroid cancer have filed lawsuits against the drug manufacturers, alleging that the companies were aware of the drugs’ risks but failed to provide adequate warning about them.

Childress makes numerous claims in the Byetta thyroid cancer lawsuit, including accusing Amylin and Eli Lilly of failure to warn, defective design, breach of warranty, negligence, fraudulent concealment and negligent misrepresentation.

Her lawsuit joins the growing number of lawsuits that have been filed by patients who have experienced Byetta and Januvia thyroid cancer. Due to the large number of Byetta and Januvia cancer lawsuits, lawyers have requested that the cases be consolidated into multidistrict litigation (MDL). Because many of these plaintiffs are facing life-threatening cancer, their attorneys have requested that the cases be expedited. However, this motion to expedite the proceedings was denied last month by the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation.

As public awareness of the dangers of Byetta and Januvia thyroid cancer grows, the number of lawsuits is likely to increase.

Take Legal Action

If you or someone you care about has been diagnosed with thyroid cancer after taking Januvia or Byetta, you have legal rights. To learn more about your options, visit our Type 2 Diabetes Drugs Januvia, Byetta Class Action Lawsuit Investigation page. When you submit information about your Januvia thyroid cancer, a lawyer will conduct a free case evaluation to determine whether you may qualify to join a Byetta or Januvia lawsuit. You could be entitled to significant compensation for your injuries.