Janumet Pancreatic Cancer

If you have type-2 diabetes and used Janumet (sitagliptin / metformin) to control your blood-sugar levels, you may or may not have been aware about the potential risk of pancreatic cancer. Researchers are still investigating the risk of Janumet pancreatic cancer, but several early warning signs have been identified. Janumet increases the risk of pancreatitis and inhibits an enzyme called DPP-4, which are both potential risk factors for pancreatic cancer. If you were injured by Janumet pancreatic cancer, contact our Janumet lawyers today.

What You Can Do & How a Janumet Lawsuit Can Help

The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Janumet induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know was injured by Janumet pancreatic cancer, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Defective Drug Litigation Group or call us toll-free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.

UPDATE: FDA Safety Alert for Pancreatic Cancer

March 15, 2013 — FDA publishes Safety Alert regarding potential risk of pancreatic cancer. Click here to read more.

Janumet and Pancreatic Cancer

Janumet (sitagliptin / metformin) was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2007 to treat type-2 diabetes, along with diet and exercise. The sitagliptin in Janumet inhibits an enzyme called DPP-4 (dipeptidyl peptidase-4) which helps the pancreas produce more insulin.

• What are the symptoms of pancreatic cancer?
• Does Janumet cause pancreatic cancer?
• What are the complications of pancreatic cancer?
• How is pancreatic cancer diagnosed?
• What is the treatment for pancreatic cancer?

Unfortunately, several studies and the FDA have linked Janumet to acute pancreatitis, which is a risk factor for pancreatic cancer. Other studies have raised concerns that DPP-4 inhibition could increase the risk of all cancers, because low DPP-4 levels are an early biomarker of cancer.

Due to the potential link between sitagliptin and cancers of the pancreas and/or thyroid, in 2009, the FDA required Amylin Pharmaceuticals to conduct a long-term study of the disease. Unfortunately, cancer studies usually take many years to conduct.

Does Janumet Cause Pancreatic Cancer?

It is unknown whether Janumet causes pancreatic cancer, but there is a potential risk. Many factors make it difficult to investigate the risk of Janumet pancreatic cancer, including:

• Janumet has only been sold since 2007 in the U.S.
• Pancreatic cancer is relatively rare
• Many people would need to take Janumet and develop pancreatic cancer to evaluate the risk of Janumet pancreatic cancer.
• Type-2 diabetes is a risk factor for pancreatic cancer. It is difficult to determine whether a case of pancreatic cancer is caused by diabetes or Janumet.

Studies of Janumet Pancreatic Cancer

The journal Gastroenterology published a study of Janumet pancreatic cancer in 2011. After analyzing data from the FDA MedWatch adverse event database from 2004 – 2009, they linked sitagliptin to a 2.7-fold increased risk of pancreatic cancer based on 16 reports. Although the results of the study should not be extrapolated to the general population, it does suggest a potential risk that needs to be investigated further.

Symptoms of Janumet Pancreatic Cancer

Any potential case of Janumet pancreatic cancer is unlikely to show symptoms in the early stages of the disease. Only 20% of people who are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer can be cured with surgery. In most cases, by the time pancreatic cancer produces symptoms, it has already spread (metastasized) and is very difficult to treat.

Janumet pancreatic cancer symptoms include:

• Jaundice (yellow color in the skin and whites of the eyes)
• Diabetes (high blood-sugar, unexplained sudden onset)
• Weight loss
• Nausea, vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Upper-abdominal pain, discomfort, or belly ache (which may radiate to the back)
• Enlarged lymph nodes
• Itching
• Indigestion, bloating
• Dark urine
• Pale or clay-colored stools
• Poor appetite
• And more

Do I have a Janumet Lawsuit?

The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Janumet induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know was injured by Janumet pancreatic cancer, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Defective Drug Litigation Group or call us toll-free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.

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