New Byetta Thyroid Cancer Lawsuit Filed in Federal Court

A Florida woman claims in a new Byetta lawsuit filed August 23 that she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer, a condition she says was directly caused by her use of the type-2 diabetes medication.

Plaintiff Karen Brooks began taking Byetta in February 2008 for several months. About one year later, she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer, which necessitated medical care to minimize the spread of tumors. She is suing Byetta manufacturer Amylin Pharmaceuticals on counts of failure to warn, design defect, negligence, breaches of express and implied warranties, negligent misrepresentation and fraudulent concealment as well as violation of Florida state statutes.

To support the allegations, her Byetta thyroid cancer lawsuit notes that while there are no drug safety warnings regarding thyroid cancer as a side effect of Byetta, similar drugs carry well-publicized “black box” warnings from the FDA for similar issues. Victoza, a diabetes medication in the same drug class, was approved in 2010, but the FDA required post-marketing approvals and a clear warning regarding thyroid tumors, the lawsuit says.

Bydureon, another diabetes drug manufactured by Amylin Pharmaceuticals that is touted as “a long-acting form of the medication in Byetta” also carries a black box warning that it causes tumors in animal studies. However, the Byetta lawsuit alleges that the lack of information regarding Byetta thyroid cancer side effects, which occur 4.73 times more often than other treatments, puts numerous patients at risk for unforeseen conditions.

There are a number of lawsuits like that of Brooks that accuse Amylin and others of marketing a type-2 diabetes medication with carcinogenic properties. While thyroid cancer can be treated with some success, the medications have also been linked to pancreatic cancer side effects, which have a 5-percent survivability rate within five years of diagnosis.

The Byetta thyroid cancer lawsuit is Karen Brooks v. Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Case No. 13-cv-1974, U.S. District Court, Southern District of California.

Get Legal Help for Your Cancer Diagnosis

If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with conditions such as pancreatic cancer or thyroid cancer while taking a type-2 diabetes medication, get educated. A Byetta thyroid cancer lawsuit attorney can help review your case’s eligibility and help you determine whether or not to file a complaint. 

Learn more and get a free consultation by filling out the short form at the Type 2 Diabetes Drugs Januvia, Byetta Class Action Lawsuit Investigation today. You may be eligible for compensatory damages to offset lost quality of life, any medical bills and additional funds based on counts in a potential complaint.