Diabetes drugs like Jentadueto lower blood-sugar by forcing the pancreas to make more insulin. Some experts warn that this could lead to inflammation or pancreatitis, a risk-factor for pancreatic cancer.
What You Can Do & How We Can Help
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Jentadueto induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been diagnosed with 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 toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
Overview
People with type-2 diabetes are more likely to develop pancreatic cancer. Some experts are concerned that diabetes drugs like Jentadueto could further increase this risk. Jentadueto is an incretin therapy medication that forces the pancreas to make more insulin, which lowers blood-sugar levels. It has only been on the market since 2012 and the long-term risks are unknown.
FDA Investigates Pancreatic Risks of Jentadueto
The FDA has issued several warnings about pancreatitis from incretin therapy. Pancreatitis is a risk-factor for pancreatic cancer. Over time, chronic inflammation increases cell turnover and the risk of DNA mutations that cause cancer.
A number of studies have found evidence linking pancreatic cancer with diabetes drugs, including one study published in 2010 by Gastroenterology. In 2013, Diabetes published a study linking incretin therapy and pre-cancerous growths that could become malignant. The FDA issued a Safety Communication about pancreatic side effects of Jentadueto in March 2013. The agency opened an investigation but did not update the prescribing information for Jentadueto.
Pancreatic Cancer
Pancreatic cancer occurs when tumors start growing inside the pancreas. The pancreas is an organ that makes digestive juices and hormones that regulate blood-sugar, including insulin and glucagon.
Warning Signs & Symptoms
The most common symptoms include weight-loss and pain. The pain may feel like a backache or discomfort in the stomach area that comes and goes or gets worse after eating.
Some types of pancreatic cancer can cause blood cots in the legs. Pancreatic cancer can also block the bile duct and cause jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), itching, dark-colored urine, or pale-colored stools.
Pancreatic cancer symptoms may include:
- Pain
- Loss of appetite
- Jaundice
- Fever
- Extreme tiredness (fatigue)
- Weight-loss (unexplained loss of 10 pounds or more)
- Indigestion after eating greasy foods
- Pale-colored stools, dark-colored urine
What is the problem?
Pancreatic cancer is hard to diagnose in its early stages because it does not cause symptoms. When symptoms do appear, they usually occur because the cancer has grown large enough to block a duct or press on nerves and organs nearby.
Most people are only diagnosed with pancreatic cancer after it has spread to other organs (metastasized), which is why only 20% can have surgery to remove the cancer. Even with aggressive chemotherapy and radiation treatment, pancreatic cancer is often deadly.
Do I have a Jentadueto Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Jentadueto induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been diagnosed with 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 toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
Attention Lawyers: We consider a referral from another law firm to be one of the greatest compliments. If your firm is interested in referring us a case or for us to send you a list of previous award judgments and/or average referral fees, please visit the Lawyer Referral section of our website.