Byetta Lawyers

Byetta / Incretin Mimetic Drug Pancreatic Cancer Lawyers in North Carolina

Hardison & Cochran is examining claims of pancreatic cancer and related illness suffered by users of Byetta and other incretin mimetic drugs commonly prescribed to treat diabetes in North Carolina and across the country.

A recent Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine study found that the risk of developing pancreatitis – a precursor to pancreatic cancer and a cause of renal (kidney) failure – nearly doubled in patients taking Byetta and other incretin mimetics. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is now investigating the safety of these medications.

If you or someone you know has used one of these drugs and developed pancreatic cancer or other illness, you may have a right to seek compensation for your losses.

The lawyers of Hardison & Cochran want to help you. Call us today at (800) 738-0449 or use our online form to schedule a consultation. Our case reviews are free and confidential.

What are Byetta and Incretin Mimetic Drugs?

Byetta is one of several incretin mimetic drugs taken by those with diabetes, which allegedly have been linked to pancreatic cancer – the other drugs in this class allegedly linked to pancreatic cancer are:

  • Bydureon (weekly injectable Byetta)
  • Jnuvia
  • Janumet
  • Victoza

Exanatide belongs to a class of medications called incretin mimetics. These drugs are prescribed along with diet and exercise to treat patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus. The drugs generally mimic the incretin hormones that the body produces to naturally stimulate the release of insulin when a meal is ingested.

Other types of incretin mimetics include:

  • Sitagliptin (Januvia, Janumet, Janumet XR and Juvisync)
  • Liraglutide (Victoza)
  • Saxagliptin (Onglyza, Kombiglyze XR)
  • Alogliptin (Nesina, Kazano and Oseni)
  • Linagliptin (Tradjenta and Jentadueto)

Byetta / Incretin Mimetic Health Risks

Serious concerns have been raised about side effects from using Byetta and other incretin mimetics. In particular, a study by the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine found a two-fold increased risk of patients being hospitalized for acute pancreatitis after using exenatide (Byetta) and sitagliptin (Januvia). The study was published in February 2013 in JAMA Internal Medicine.

In March 2013, the FDA announced that it was evaluating research that suggested “an increased risk of pancreatitis, or inflammation of the pancreas, and pre-cancerous cellular changes called pancreatic duct metaplasia” among patients treated with incretin mimetics.

The FDA noted that it had not reached any new conclusions about safety risks associated with these drugs but only wanted to inform the public and health care professionals that it intended to investigate this new information. The FDA also stressed that it had not concluded that Byetta and other drugs may cause or contribute to the development of pancreatic cancer.

As far back as 2009, the FDA has warned about altered kidney function (acute renal failure and renal insufficiency) reported among patients using Byetta. Today, the FDA requires the labels for the drug to include a recommendation that health professionals “monitor patients carefully for the development of kidney dysfunction and evaluate the continued need for Byetta if kidney dysfunction is suspected while using the product.”

What You Can Do If You Believe You Have Suffered Byetta / Incretin Mimetic Side Effects

At Hardison & Cochran, our attorneys are closely tracking the reported risks associated with Byetta and other incretin mimetic drugs. We are committed to seeking answers for patients and families who may have been harmed by these pharmaceuticals.

If you believe that you or a loved one has suffered health problems due to use of incretin mimetics such as Byetta, you should talk with a lawyer about your case. To schedule a free and confidential consultation with Hardison & Cochran, call us today at (800) 738-0449 or contact us online.

For More Information:

  • GLP-1 Mimetics Double Pancreatitis Risk in Diabetics, Medscape Today
  • Safety Alert – Byetta (exenatide), U.S. Food and Drug Administration
  • Byetta (exenatide) – Renal Failure, U.S. Food and Drug Administration