August 20, 2014 — AstraZeneca and Amylin Pharmaceuticals, LLC have agreed to an undisclosed settlement in 84 lawsuits involving Byetta (exenatide) and its extended-release version, Bydureon.
The lawsuits were filed in state court in California by plaintiffs with a variety of injuries, including pancreatitis (pancreatic inflammation), pancreatic cancer, and thyroid cancer.
Approximately 409 lawsuits have been filed by people who were injured by Byetta and Bydureon. The litigation is currently proceeding through federal and state courts in California:
AstraZeneca reported the settlements in a second-quarter financial report for 2014. According to the report:
“A Multi-District Litigation has been established in the US District Court for the Southern District of California in regard to the alleged pancreatic cancer cases in federal courts. Further, a coordinated proceeding has been established in Los Angeles, California in regard to the various lawsuits in California state courts.”
In 2011, researchers published a study in Gastroenterology linking Byetta to an increased risk of pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, and thyroid cancer.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been investigating the link between Byetta and pancreatic cancer for over a year. In March 2013, they issued a Safety Alert after a study found a link between Byetta and pre-cancerous cellular changes in pancreases from deceased patients.
Do I have a Byetta Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Byetta induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been injured by pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, or thyroid 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 toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
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