Juvisync is a type-2 diabetes medication that contains sitagliptin, a drug that has recently been linked to a potential risk of pancreatic cancer and thyroid cancer. Although the link between Juvisync and cancer is still under investigation, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has received several reports of individuals who took sitagliptin and developed cancer.
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 or thyroid cancer after taking Juvisync, you should contact our lawyers immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a Juvisync lawsuit in Texas.
What is Juvisync?
Juvisync is a drug created by Merck & Co. that was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in October 2011. Juvisync treats type-2 diabetes and high cholesterol by combining two medications:
- Simvastatin (brand-name: Zocor): This reduces the amount of fatty substances in the blood, including low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (“bad cholesterol”) and triglycerides.
- Sitagliptin (brand-name: Januvia): This treats type-2 diabetes by stimulating the pancreas to produce more insulin, which helps control blood-sugar levels.
Juvisync and Pancreatic Cancer
The link between Juvisync and pancreatic cancer is due to sitagliptin. This drug inhibits an enzyme called dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4), which results in higher levels of a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). More GLP-1 causes the pancreas to make more insulin, which lowers blood-sugar levels.
Unfortunately, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, this may double a patient’s risk of pancreatitis (sudden inflammation in the pancreas).
Pancreatitis is a known risk factor for pancreatic cancer, which is why experts is concerned about the potential link between Juvisync and pancreatic cancer. On March 15, 2013, the FDA published a Safety Alert to warn that they were evaluating a study that found pre-cancerous cellular changes in tissue samples collected from patients who used diabetes drugs in the incretin mimetic class, which includes Juvisync.
Studies of Juvisync and Cancer
A study published in 2011 in Gastroenterology reviewed adverse event reports submitted to the FDA between 2004 and 2009. Researchers associated sitagliptin with higher rates of pancreatic cancer and thyroid cancer. Although this study indicates a possible increased risk of cancer associated with Juvisync, the researchers cautioned:
“This analysis of the FDA database does not establish that pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer and thyroid cancer are caused by GLP-1 therapy. It simply raises the level of concern that they may be, and that the appropriate prospective studies are required to rule them out.”
Juvisync MDL
The Clark Firm, LLP is nationally recognized as a class action law firm, but our Texas trial attorneys are not filing a Juvisync class action. Instead, we are filing individual lawsuits for people who were injured by pancreatic cancer.
U.S. District Judge Anthony Battaglia oversees more than 750 lawsuits involving pancreatic side effects of diabetes drugs. These lawsuits are not part of a class action — they are individual lawsuits that have been centralized in a Multi-District Litigation (MDL No. 2452) in federal court in Southern California, In Re: Incretin Mimetics Products Liability Litigation MDL.
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.