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Byetta Thyroid Cancer Causes

Byetta Thyroid Cancer Causes

No one knows if Byetta causes thyroid cancer, but the FDA has received at least 30 reports of patients on Byetta who developed thyroid cancer. In 2009, the FDA asked the manufacturer to investigate a “serious risk of thyroid cancer.”

What You Can Do & How We Can Help

The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Byetta induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know was diagnosed with 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 us toll-free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.

Does Byetta Cause Thyroid Cancer?

No one knows if Byetta causes thyroid cancer. However, the FDA has received many reports of thyroid cancer in Byetta users. In 2009, they published a Safety Communication and asked Amylin Pharmaceuticals, the manufacturer of Byetta, to conduct six post-marketing surveillance studies to explore a “serious risk of thyroid cancer.” These studies will help the FDA understand the incidence, mechanism, and risk-factors behind this disease.

Studies of Byetta and Thyroid Cancer

In 2011, the journal Gastroenterology published a study that found a 4.7-fold increased risk of thyroid cancer associated with Byetta. Researchers warned that other GLP-1 drugs “could have serious unintended and unpredicted side effects.”

The researchers analyzed voluntarily-submitted reports to the FDA from 2004 to 2009, and found 30 reports of thyroid cancer in patients taking Byetta. Although there are limitations to these voluntarily-submitted reports, the increased risk of thyroid cancer is a signal that warrants investigation.

What Causes Thyroid Cancer?

Thyroid cancer is one of the rarest cancers, which makes adequate research very difficult. It occurs when DNA mutates inside cells of the thyroid gland, and causes them to start growing and multiplying rapidly without dying after a certain amount of time. The resulting mass of cells is called a tumor. Abnormal cells can also spread to other tissues or organs (metastasize).

Risk-Factors for Thyroid Cancer

  • Certain medications (drugs in the GLP-1 class, such as Byetta)
  • High exposure to radiation to the head and neck, especially in childhood
  • Genetics
  • Family history of thyroid cancer or goiters (enlarged thyroid gland)
  • Individual medical history of goiters
  • Asian ancestry
  • Age between 25-65 years old
  • Being female — about 75% of people who get thyroid cancer are female.
  • Certain diseases or health conditions, such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, Cowden’s syndrome, thyroid adenoma, and familial adenomatous polyposis
  • And more

More Information

Do I have a Thyroid Cancer Lawsuit?

The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Byetta induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know was diagnosed with 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 us toll-free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.

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