Thyroid cancer has been associated with Byetta (exenatide), a diabetes drugs in the incretin mimetic class that treats type-2 diabetes by regulating metabolic hormones. Dozens of people have developed thyroid cancer after taking diabetes drugs, and many are now seeking justice through a thyroid cancer lawsuit.
What You Can Do & How a Thyroid Cancer Lawsuit Can Help
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting thyroid cancer induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know was injured by Byetta, 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.
Diabetes Drugs and Thyroid Cancer
Diabetes medications in the incretin mimetic class work by influencing metabolic hormones (incretins) that regulate insulin and blood-sugar levels. Because drugs in this class have only been sold since 2005, there is no long-term safety information and they may have unanticipated side effects. Unfortunately, there is already evidence linking Byetta and thyroid cancer. This evidence is concerning because thyroid cancer is very rare, slow-growing, and adequate research may take years.
Victoza and Thyroid Cancer
In 2011, the FDA published this Drug Warning regarding a link between Victoza (liraglutide) and thyroid cancer. The FDA also required a “Black Box” warning on the label to inform patients about the risk of thyroid cancer. Unfortunately, in studies of rats and mice who were given “clinically relevant exposures” of Victoza, the animals developed malignant C-cell thyroid cancer. The risk of cancer increased with higher doses.
Byetta and Thyroid Cancer
Byetta (exenatide), another diabetes drug in the incretin mimetic class, has also been linked to cases of thyroid cancer. This is concerning, because Byetta has been on the market since 2005, and it has the longest track-record of all the drugs in its class. Unfortunately, after less than four years on the market, the FDA asked the manufacturer of Byetta to “explore a potential signal of a serious risk of thyroid cancer and pancreatic cancer.” The FDA also published a Safety Communication regarding the risk of pancreatitis.
What is Thyroid Cancer?
Thyroid cancer occurs when DNA mutations in cells cause them to divide and grow out of control. The thyroid is a “butterfly-shaped” gland with two lobes that wrap around the lower-front and center part of the neck. The function of the thyroid is to regulate metabolism.
There are four major types of thyroid cancer:
- anaplastic thyroid cancer
- medullary thyroid cancer
- follicular thyroid cancer
- papillary thyroid cancer
Fortunately, most of these cancers are slow-growing, non-aggressive, and can usually be surgically removed and cured. Only anaplastic thyroid cancer has a poor prognosis, because it quickly grows into structures in the neck (nerves, muscle, blood vessels, windpipe, etc.) and spreads to the lymph nodes and throughout the body.
Symptoms of Thyroid Cancer
Thyroid cancer often produces no symptoms in its early stages. However, as it grows, the most common symptom is a lump or “nodule” on the neck. The cancer is diagnosed with a biopsy (tissue sample taken from the lump).
Symptoms of thyroid cancer include:
- Lump or nodule on the neck
- Pain in the neck or throat
- Swelling
- Unexplained cough or hoarseness
- Difficulty breathing or swallowing
- Voice changes
- Enlarged lymph nodes
- And more
Do I have a Thyroid Cancer Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting thyroid cancer induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know was diagnosed with thyroid cancer after taking Byetta, 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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