Januvia (sitagliptin) is a diabetes medication that can help control blood-sugar levels. Unfortunately, it has also been linked to some severe side effects, including pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, and bullous pemphigoid.
Do I Have a Januvia 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 has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, you should contact our lawyers immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a lawsuit.
Januvia Side Effects
- Bile duct disease
- Bullous pemphigoid
- Gallbladder disease
- Heart failure
- Joint pain
- Pancreatitis
- Pancreatic cancer
UPDATE: Januvia Linked to Bile Duct and Gallbladder Disease
August 2, 2016 — Study links GLP-1 agonists with a 79% increased risk of bile duct and gallbladder disease. Patients were also twice as likely to need gallbladder surgery. Click here to read more.
April 28, 2016 — A new study in mice has found that antioxidants in diabetes drugs like Januvia may protect cancer cells and promote the spread of pre-existing tumors. Click here to read more.
December 29, 2014 — Study links Januvia to 964 deaths and 4,425 hospitalizations between 2004 and March 2014. Click here to read more.
July 23, 2014 — Januvia has been linked to an 84% increase in hospitalization for heart failure, according to research published in JACC Heart Failure. The study adds to a growing body of evidence linking DPP-4 inhibitors and heart failure. Click here to read more.
August 26, 2013 — The U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) has centralized more than 50 lawsuits involving diabetes drugs into the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California. Plaintiffs allege that Januvia caused their pancreatic cancer or the wrongful death of a family member. Click here to read more.
June 17, 2013 — The American Diabetes Association (ADA) has asked the manufacturer of Januvia to provide patient-level data on the risk of pancreatic cancer. The ADA intends to hire independent researchers to evaluate the data for a potential link between Januvia and pancreatic cancer. Click here to read more.
June 12, 2013 — The British Medical Journal has published an editorial raising concern about the lack of warnings regarding studies linking new diabetes drugs in the incretin mimetic class to a potential risk of pancreatic cancer. Click here to read more.
March 15, 2013 — FDA publishes Safety Alert regarding potential risk of pancreatic cancer. Click here to read more.
February 26, 2013 — Study published in JAMA Internal Medicine links Januvia and other GLP-1 diabetes drugs to a doubled risk of pancreatitis. Click here to read more.
Overview
Januvia (sitagliptin) is a once-daily oral diabetes medication. When used in combination with diet and exercise, Januvia can help a diabetic person control their blood-sugar levels. Januvia was developed by Merck & Co., and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved it in 2006.
Januvia belongs to a new class of diabetes drugs that works by inhibiting an enzyme called dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4). Normally, DPP-4 breaks down hormones (such as GLP-1) which tells the body to produce insulin. By inhibiting DPP-4, the hormone GLP-1 lasts longer in the body, and stimulates the body to produce extra amounts of insulin.
Insulin triggers cells to absorb blood-sugar, which lowers total blood-sugar levels. People with Type-2 diabetes have chronic problems controlling their blood-sugar, because their cells do not respond to normal amounts of insulin. Drugs like Januvia help control blood-sugar by helping the body produce more insulin.
Januvia and Cancer
In 2011, Gastroenterology published a study that found an increased risk of cancer. Researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) looked at the FDA’s public database of adverse event reports from 2004-2009. Physicians voluntarily submit these reports after they treat patients for serious drug side effects.
The researchers collected reports for Januvia, Byetta, and other diabetes drugs, and compared the rates of pancreatic cancer. The researchers found that patients who were taking Januvia were 2.7-times more likely to have pancreatic cancer.
Within two months after this study was published, two major drug companies sent letters to Gastroenterology requesting that the study be withdrawn. The drug companies called the researchers’ findings “unjustified” and warned that people taking Januvia might be unnecessarily scared about the health risks. Gastroenterology officially withdrew the article.
Januvia Pancreatic Cancer
Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest types of cancers. It is fast-growing and rarely produces serious symptoms in its early stages, which delays diagnosis. By the time diagnosis occurs, more than 80% of people cannot be cured by surgical removal of cancerous pancreatic tissue. The average survival time is one year, with fewer than 5% of people surviving for five years.
Do I have a Januvia Lawsuit?
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