Diabetes drugs in the “incretin mimetic” class force the pancreas to make more insulin, which helps lower blood-sugar. Unfortunately, these drugs may also increase the risk of pancreatic cancer or pancreatitis.
What You Can Do & How We Can Help
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting pancreatic cancer induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been injured by a diabetes medication, 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 toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
FDA Investigates Pancreatic Side Effects of Diabetes Drugs
The FDA has opened an investigation into the risk of pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer from incretin therapy. Diabetes drugs in the “incretin mimetic” class work by mimicking incretins, which are digestive hormones that stimulate the pancreas to release insulin. This helps lower blood-sugar levels in people who have type-2 diabetes.
The FDA cited a concerning study published by the journal of the American Diabetes Association. Researchers found pre-cancerous growths that could lead to pancreatic cancer in several pancreases of patients who used incretin therapy.
Experts are concerned that incretin therapy could over-stimulate the pancreas and cause inflammation or pancreatitis. In 2008, the FDA issued warnings about hemorrhagic and necrotizing pancreatitis. Recent studies have found that incretin therapy doubles the risk of pancreatitis.
Pancreatitis is also a risk-factor for pancreatic cancer. Long-term inflammation increases the odds of cancerous DNA mutations that lead to pancreatic cancer. Unfortunately, because pancreatic cancer is rare and does not produce symptoms in its early stages, most people are only diagnosed after the cancer has spread.
Diabetes drugs in the incretin mimetic class:
- Exenatide (Byetta, Bydureon)
- Liraglutide (Victoza)
- Sitagliptin (Januvia, Janumet, Janumet XR, Juvisync)
- Saxagliptin (Onglyza, Kombiglyze XR)
- Alogliptin (Nesina, Kazano, Oseni)
- Linagliptin (Tradjenta, Jentadueto)
What is the problem?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is nationally recognized as a class action law firm. However, we are not filing a pancreatic cancer class action. Instead, we are helping people join this litigation by filing individual lawsuits.
About Class Actions
Class actions are designed to maximize efficiency. They help large groups of people resolve similar legal claims all at once. If compensation is awarded, everyone in the class action shares.
Why Our Law Firm is Filing Individual Lawsuits as Opposed to a Class Action
Class actions could be problematic for people who were injured by pancreatic cancer. They are not designed to maximize compensation for people with severe injuries. Furthermore, members of class actions may have to accept “low-ball” settlements or high attorneys’ fees.
Our attorneys file individual lawsuits so we can focus our efforts on seeking justice for people with the most severe injuries. We hold pharmaceutical companies accountable for failing to warn about side effects. If you file a lawsuit, you could receive compensation for your medical expenses, emotional and physical injuries, and more.
Do I have a Pancreatic Cancer Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting pancreatic cancer induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been injured by a diabetes medication, 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 toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
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The Schmidt Firm, PLLC has been recognized as one of the nation’s leading plaintiffs' law firms and handles cases in all 50 states. We are very proud of our legal achievements, but equally self-respecting of our firm's reputation for providing personal attention to each and every client we represent.
