Potential Link Between DPP-4 Inhibitor Drugs and Pancreatic Cancer Remains Unknown
The risk of pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer from diabetes medications is not a new concern, but new information suggests that short-term use of the drugs does not increase the risk of pancreatic cancer, as was previously reported in earlier studies. Still, there is limited research involving long-term use of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor medications for Type 2 diabetes, and as new information comes to light about the potential for Invokana and other SGLT-2 inhibitor diabetes drugs to cause serious side effects like ketoacidosis, diabetes patients should be aware of the injuries they may be exposing themselves to by taking certain prescription medications. If you took Onglyza or another DPP-4 inhibitor in the past, and you have since been diagnosed with pancreatitis or pancreatic cancer, contact a skilled product liability lawyer today for legal help.
Latest News on Link Between DPP-4 Inhibitor Drugs Onglyza and Januvia and Pancreatic Cancer
Pancreatitis, Pancreatic Cancer Linked to DPP-4 Inhibitors
Since DPP-4 inhibitor drugs like Merck’s Januvia (sitagliptin) and AstraZeneca and Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Onglyza (saxagliptin) first entered the market, the prescription medications have become some of the most widely-used drugs for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes, largely because they have been associated with fewer side effects than other available diabetes treatments. However, a growing number of studies have suggested that patients who take DPP-4 inhibitors like Onglyza or Januvia may face an increased risk of serious medical complications, including pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer.
And, while some recent studies have contradicted these findings, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced in 2013 that it is “evaluating unpublished new findings by a group of academic researchers that suggest an increased risk of pancreatitis, or inflammation of the pancreas, and pre-cancerous cellular changes called pancreatic duct metaplasia in patients with type 2 diabetes treated with a class of drugs called incretin mimetics,” like Onglyza and Januvia.
Possible Risks of Long-Term DPP-4 Inhibitor Use
In a study conducted in September 2014, researchers from the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health and the UNC School of Medicine found that “short-term use of DPP-4 inhibitors in older diabetes patients does not increase their risk of pancreatic cancer,” according to John Buse, MD, PhD, director of the Diabetes Care Center at UNC and co-author of the study. “However we cannot address the long-term safety, yet. There are just not enough people who have taken the drugs for many years.” The concern here, is that patients who take Onglyza and other DPP-4 inhibitors for long periods of time may face a higher risk of pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer than patients who take the Type 2 diabetes medications for a shorter period of time.
In February 2012, Bristol-Myers Squibb and AstraZeneca added new safety information on the use of Onglyza in South Africa, indicating a possible link between Onglyza use and side effects like pancreatitis and sensitivity to saxagliptin and other DPP-4 inhibitors. The following year, a Januvia study reported “worrisome changes in the pancreases of rats that could lead to pancreatic cancer,” which led the FDA and the European Medicines Agency to undertake independent reviews of the potential connection between DPP-4 inhibitors and pancreatic cancer. The FDA concluded that “Although the totality of the data that have been reviewed provides reassurance, pancreatitis will continue to be considered a risk associated with these drugs until more data are available.” Another study published in the medical journal Diabetes in March 2013, found that Onglyza and similar medications were tied to an increased risk of abnormal precancerous cells in the autopsied pancreases of people taking the diabetes drugs.
Contact a Reputable Drug Injury Lawyer for Help
DPP-4 inhibitor diabetes drugs like Onglyza and Januvia are designed to increase the size and number of beta cells in the pancreas, because these cells are responsible for secreting insulin. However, research has shown that, while the medications can, in fact, increase the number of beta cells, the cells may be abnormal and may be accompanied by small tumors called adenomas, which can become malignant. If you believe you have been adversely affected by side effects of Onglyza or another DPP-4 inhibitor diabetes medication, contact a reputable drug injury lawyer today to discuss your options for legal recourse. With a qualified attorney on your side, you can protect your legal rights and pursue the financial compensation you deserve for your injuries, medical expenses, and pain and suffering.