Tennessee Woman Gets Thyroid Cancer from Byetta

Studies show that Byetta, a commonly prescribed type-2 diabetes medication, causes an increased risk in thyroid issues including thyroid cancer. Geneva Edwards is the latest victim, and she’ll be spending her final days fighting for compensation. 

A resident of Tennessee, she filed her Byetta lawsuit on August 12, 2013. She began taking Byetta in December 2005 and continued for about six months until May 2006. During that short six-month span, she was exposed to enough of the drug for it to cause thyroid cancer. 

“On or about October 15, 2012, (Edwards) suffered severe physical, economic, and emotional injuries as a result” of Byetta, the lawsuit states. She didn’t realize that her thyroid cancer diagnosis was related to her Byetta prescription until recently. She’s suing Pfizer, the maker of Byetta.

The Byetta Lawsuit Allegations

Edwards says that Pfizer’s “negligent and wrongful conduct in connection with the design, development, manufacture, testing, packaging, promoting, marketing, distribution, labeling and/or sale” of Byetta is directly responsible for her pain and suffering, as well as ongoing healthcare and medical bills. 

According to Edwards’ Byetta lawsuit:

“Due to the flawed formulation of Byetta, it increases the risk of thyroid cancer in those diabetic patients to whom it is prescribed. Despite undeniable knowledge of the risk, and with full appreciation of the deadly side-effects posed by ingesting Byetta, Defendants concealed their knowledge that Byetta can cause life threatening thyroid cancer from Plaintiff, other consumers, the general public, and the medical community. Indeed, the Defendants who manufacture and market Byetta never even mentioned ‘thyroid cancer’ in their products’ inserts.”

Specifically, Pfizer is accused of not adequately informing consumers and the prescribing medical community about the risks of thyroid cancer associated with Byetta usage, nor did the company warn or otherwise advise physicians to institute monitoring procedures looking for the first signs of changes within the thyroid. 

“The current warnings for the Drug are simply inadequate, especially in light of the warnings made by competing drugs within Byetta’s own drug family,” the Byetta lawsuit says. “The Defendants have failed and continue to fail in their duties to warn and protect the consuming public, including [Edwards].”

Edwards states in her Byetta lawsuit that Pfizer’s “deadly silence has been profitable. Byetta is one 
of the top-selling drugs in the country. In 2010, the worldwide sales of Byetta reached $0.710 billion and visiongain predicts sales to reach $1.00 billion by 2015 and $1.28 billion by 2021. While Defendants have enjoyed great financial success from their blockbuster Drug, they continue to place American citizens at risk of developing thyroid cancer.”

Edwards’ Final Requests

Edwards is suing Byetta’s manufacturers for failure to warn, design defect, negligence, breach of warranty, negligence misrepresentation, fraudulent concealment, and punitive damages. 

She’s seeking actual damages, medical expenses and other economic damages, compensation for pain and suffering, punitive damages, attorney’s fees and any other compensation the court sees fit. 

The case is Geneva Edwards v. Amylin Pharmaceuticals, et al., Case No.: 3:13-cv-01861-MMA-WVG, United States District Court Southern District of California.

Did You or a Loved One Take Byetta?

If you or someone you love took Byetta and experienced thyroid complications, including cancer, you may qualify for a Byetta legal claim. Learn more by visiting the Type 2 Diabetes Drugs Januvia, Byetta, Victoza Class Action Lawsuit Investigation today. Once you submit your information, an attorney will contact you if you qualify for a free Byetta claim review.