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Onglyza Pancreatic Cancer Lawsuit

Onglyza Pancreatic Cancer Lawsuit

Recent studies have found that Onglyza, a new diabetes drug from AstraZeneca, may increase the risk of pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer.

What You Can Do & How an Onglyza Lawsuit Can Help

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

Overview

Onglyza (saxagliptin) is a medication that helps adults with type-2 diabetes control blood-sugar levels. It works by mimicking a hormone called GLP-1, which causes proliferation of cells in the pancreas that make insulin. Onglyza belongs to a class of drugs known as incretin mimetics.

What is the problem?

Onglyza specifically targets the pancreas and has been linked to case reports of pancreatitis (pancreatic inflammation). The problem is that low-level pancreatitis often produces few symptoms and is not diagnosed or treated. Over time, chronic pancreatitis can increase the risk of pancreatic cancer.

Study Links Pancreatic Cancer to New Diabetes Drugs

In March 2013, Diabetes published a study in which researchers dissected pancreases from patients with diabetes who took drugs in the incretin mimetic class and died from unspecified causes. They found that a majority of the pancreases had excessive cell proliferation and/or pre-cancerous growths.

Researchers warned about a possible risk of cancer, or at the very least an increased risk of surgery to remove pre-cancerous tumors:

“Since the standard of care of a pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor, because of the risk of conversion to malignancy, even if benign, is surgical resection [i.e. removal], patients exposed to incretin therapy would seem to be at increased risk of requiring pancreatic surgery.”

FDA Safety Warning for Onglyza and Pancreatic Cancer

The FDA has issued a Safety Communication and will investigate studies linking diabetes drugs like Onglyza to a possible risk of pancreatic cancer.

The agency has already warned about the risk of pancreatitis and cancer from new diabetes drugs. In 2009, the FDA asked the makers of other incretin mimetics to “explore a potential signal of a serious risk of thyroid cancer and pancreatic cancer.”

What is Pancreatic Cancer?

Pancreatic cancer occurs when cells grow uncontrollably in the pancreas, which is a small digestive gland located deep inside the abdomen that is responsible for producing enzymes and hormones that break down food.

Pancreatic Cancer Symptoms

One of the reasons pancreatic cancer is so deadly is because it produces so few symptoms in its early stages. By the time symptoms appear, the cancer has usually spread beyond the pancreas and can no longer be treated with surgery alone. Symptoms may include:

  • Unexplained fatigue or weight-loss
  • Bloating
  • Sudden worsening of type-2 diabetes
  • Abdominal pain, tenderness, swelling
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Dark urine and/or light-colored stools
  • Jaundice (yellow skin or whites of the eyes)
  • And more

Do I have an Onglyza Lawsuit?

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

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