Onglyza® is a diabetes medication commonly prescribed to patients in recent years, has recently been linked to increased risk of heart failure or pancreatic cancer by the Food & Drug Administration. Any individuals who have taken Onglyza® and suffered pancreatic cancer or heart attack complications may qualify for a lawsuit against the manufacturer.
Background of Onglyza®
This medication was approved for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes in 2009 and helps people diagnosed with diabetes to maintain healthy blood sugar levels. Unfortunately, however, recent reports from patients and doctors indicate that Onglyza® may increase the risk of serious injury or death. The medication has been linked to thyroid cancer, pancreatic cancer, and other dangerous side effects. A recent study has also indicated that patients taking Onglyza® may be at risk of hospitalization as a result of heart failure.
Getting the Help You Need After an Adverse Event
The lawyers at the Goldwater Law Firm are currently investigating the potential for filing cases and speaking with clients who find themselves in this situation. Onglyza® is included in a class of drugs known as incretin mimetics and these stimulate insulin production in the pancreas to help regulate blood sugar levels in patients with a type 2 diabetes diagnosis. These are a relatively new type of diabetes drugs on the market which became popular after Avandia®, another diabetes medication was recalled after it was found to be linked to higher risks of cardiac death. As a result, physicians and pharmaceutical companies are looking for safer alternatives to treat Type 2 diabetes, and it is believed that incretin mimetics hold promise in this area. As a result of the Avandia® recall, however, experts are also looking for potential risks and are on high alert about issues associated with serious side effects.
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Medical Research About Onglyza®
A recently-funded study determined that patients who used Onglyza® have a higher rate of hospitalizations after heart failure. This study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2013 and looked at more than 16,000 patients diagnosed with diabetes. Those patients who took Onglyza® faced a slightly higher risk for hospitalization as a result of heart failure when compared with patients who took other diabetes medication.
In 2013, the Food and Drug Administration announced that it would look into reports of possible increased risk of pancreatic cancer and pancreatitis from drugs like Onglyza. This announcement was distributed after a research in the journal Diabetes in 2013, where researchers determined that pancreatic cancer had strong links to diabetes medications like Onglyza®.
The FDA has also been investigating a connection between incretin mimetics and increased risks for thyroid cancers since 2009. In 2011 the FDA published a communication after studies indicated higher rates of malignant thyroid tumors in rodents treated with an incretin mimetic similar to Onglyza®.
Diabetes patients and family members who believe that an adverse event like a heart failure has already impacted a patient taking Onglyza® would do well to consult with the experienced defective drug attorneys at the Goldwater Law Firm. No patient should have to suffer the consequences of a drug manufacturer’s negligent or reckless behavior. If you have been injured, you may have recourse through an Onglyza® lawsuit and contacting an attorney to determine the basis for your claim sooner rather than later is in your best interests. The first step towards compensation for your injuries is consulting with an experienced attorney. To schedule a consultation with one of our practicing attorneys, please give us a call at 1-800-210-9700 or complete our inquiry contact form.