Juvisync is a type-2 diabetes medication that may increase your risk of pancreatic cancer. The problem with Juvisync is that it contains a new drug called sitagliptin, which is associated with a significantly higher risk of pancreatitis (pancreas inflammation). Pancreatitis is a known risk factor for pancreatic cancer. The FDA has also warned that pre-cancerous pancreatic cells were collected in tissue samples from diabetics who took drugs in the same class as Juvisync.
Do I Have a Texas Juvisync Lawsuit? Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged. If you or a loved one was injured by pancreatic cancer after taking Juvisync, you should contact our lawyers immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a Juvisync lawsuit in Texas.
Does Juvisync Cause Pancreatic Cancer?
No one knows if Juvisync causes pancreatic cancer. Juvisync was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2011, and there is simply no long-term safety data on Juvisync because it is a relatively new drug. Furthermore, pancreatic cancer is a relatively rare disease, and diabetes itself may increase the risk of pancreatic cancer. Therefore, adequate studies of Juvisync and pancreatic cancer will likely take many more years.
Evidence Linking Juvisync and Pancreatic Cancer
The evidence linking Juvisync and pancreatic cancer was highlighted in a study published in Gastroenterology in 2011. Researchers investigated the FDA adverse event database and found 16 cases of pancreatic cancer in patients who were taking sitagliptin. These reports are only associations and they do not prove that Juvisync increases the risk of pancreatic cancer. However, they are concerning.
The sitagliptin in Juvisync has also been linked to a doubled risk of pancreatitis, which is a known risk factor for pancreatic cancer, according to a study published in February 2013 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Furthermore, in March 2013, the FDA published a Safety Alert because researchers who collected pancreatic tissue samples from patients taking incretin mimetic drugs (which includes Juvisync) found pre-cancerous pancreatic cells.
Complications of Pancreatic Cancer
The complications of pancreatic cancer usually become very serious within a few months or years of diagnosis. This is because most people who are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer have highly-aggressive adenocarcinoma of the pancreas, which quickly spreads. Furthermore, the pancreas is located close to many vital abdominal organs, and it can cause life-threatening complications if it spreads to these organs.
Complications of pancreatic cancer include:
- Abdominal pain
- Bile duct obstruction
- Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes)
- Bowel obstruction
- Diabetes
- Weight-loss and malnutrition
- Infections in pancreatic tissue
- Metastasis (spread of the cancer to lymph nodes, liver, lungs, etc.)
- Death
Symptoms of Pancreatic Cancer
The problem with pancreatic cancer is that it rarely produces symptoms in its early stages, which typically delays diagnosis until after the cancer has metastasized. If symptoms appear, they typically include:
- Abdominal pain, swelling, or tenderness
- Nausea, vomiting
- Sudden onset of diabetes (if the pancreas stops producing insulin)
- Unintended weight-loss
- Jaundice
- Itching
- General malaise, feeling unwell
- Diarrhea
- Urine is dark, stools are light or clay-colored
Treatment for Pancreatic Cancer
If pancreatic cancer is diagnosed before it metastasizes (spreads), there is a possibility that it could be cured with surgery to remove the cancerous pancreatic tissue. These surgical procedures include:
- Whipple procedure
- Pancreatectomy
Treatment for pancreatic cancer becomes very difficult once the cancer has spread beyond the pancreas. In addition to surgery, a patient may undergo radiation therapy or chemotherapy to reduce the size of the tumor and/or slow the progression of the disease.
Do I have a Juvisync Lawsuit in Texas?
Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged.
Collen’s amazing success in the courtroom and well known dedication to his clients has earned him the recognition of his peers as one of The Top Trial Lawyers in Texas.”
The Clark Firm has assembled a team of trial lawyers with more than 100 years experience, participation in over 600 jury trials and $60 million in verdicts and/or settlements. Please use the form below to contact us for a free Texas Juvisync lawsuit review.
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