Diabetes drugs like Victoza (liraglutide) may increase the risk of pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer is a rare type of cancer, but it is extremely dangerous. It is usually symptomless in its early stages, which delays diagnosis until it is too late.
What You Can Do & How We Can Help
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Victoza 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 Victoza Litigation Group or call us toll-free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
What is the problem?
Patients on Victoza can develop sudden inflammation of the pancreas, causing pancreatitis. The FDA has issued warnings and drug-labels have been updated. Many experts are concerned because pancreatitis is a risk-factor for pancreatic cancer.
Major Study Links Victoza and Pancreatic Cancer
In June 2016, a major clinical trial known as LEADER found that twice as many patients on Victoza developed pancreatic cancer compared to a placebo.
Pancreatic cancer developed in 15 patients on Victoza, compared to 5 on a placebo, out of roughly 4,670 patients in each group. The patients were only tracked for 3.5 to 5 years, but pancreatic cancer develops slowly in its early stages. Click here to read more.
Evidence Linking Victoza and Pancreatic Cancer
In research published in May 2013 in the journal Diabetes, researchers discovered that drugs like Victoza may stimulate the proliferation of precancerous cells. People who have pancreatic abnormalities may be predisposed to develop pancreatic cancer.
Between February 2010 and September 2011, the consumer advocacy group Public Citizen found 28 reports of pancreatic cancer among Victoza patients, compared with just 1 case of pancreatic cancer among people who were taking diabetes drugs that did not mimic GLP-1.
What is Pancreatic Cancer?
Pancreatic cancer is a disease that affects the pancreas, a digestive organ that secretes digestive enzymes, insulin, and other hormones. Cancer occurs when certain cells inside the pancreas begin dividing out of control.
Often No Early Warning Signs
Most pancreatic tumors grow for years without causing any symptoms. It can take 20 years before it becomes lethal. By the time symptoms appear, the tumor is usually advanced and there are very few treatment options.
Symptoms of Pancreatic Cancer
- Dark urine, clay-colored stools
- Fatigue, weakness
- Jaundice (yellow color to the skin, mucous membranes, whites of the eyes)
- Loss of appetite, weight-loss
- Nausea, vomiting
- Pain or discomfort in the upper part of the belly or abdomen
- Back pain
- Blood clots
- Diarrhea
- Indigestion
Treatment
Pancreatic cancer is often very advanced when it is first discovered, because it does not show symptoms in the early stages of the disease. Once the cancer has grown, it is very unlikely that a surgeon will be able to remove cancerous pancreatic tissue. Only 20% of patients can have the tumor surgically removed.
Most people who have pancreatic cancer who choose to undergo treatment will receive a combination of radiation therapy and chemotherapy. However, when cancer has spread beyond the pancreas, pancreatic cancer is incurable and most people do not survive more than one year.
Do I have a Victoza Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Victoza 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 Victoza Litigation Group or call us toll-free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
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