DrugNews Update: Januvia Usage Could Slow Amid Safety Warnings and Lawsuits
New York, NY (PRWEB) July 09, 2013 -- The diabetes drug safety center at DrugNews.net is announcing updated information for patients taking the medication Januvia. Health experts have issued new warnings and calls for safety tests of the drug as reports show patient usage may be slowing*.
DrugNews was created to give patients taking popular prescription drugs the latest warnings, recalls, studies and legal news. Visitors can find out if others are experiencing similar side effects and decide if they need legal advice.
Januvia and Janumet are pill-form diabetes medications prescribed to help those with type-2 diabetes control blood sugar. The drugs were two of the best-selling for Merck in recent years, with sales of over $4 billion last year**.
Now, the resource center has learned that investors voiced concern that patient usage of the blockbuster drugs may be slowing*.
DrugNews has added a 2011 study from the University of California at Los Angeles, indicating Januvia could increase the risk of pancreatic cancer by 172% and thyroid cancer by 48%***.
The Journal for the American Medical Association also warned this year that drugs like Januvia can double the risk of pancreatitis, a major risk factor for pancreatic cancer****.
Most recently, the American Diabetes Association warned of a possible cancer link, and called for an independent review of medications like Januvia*****.
Due to the number of patients filing a Januvia lawsuit alleging cancer, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation will meet on July 25th to determine consolidation of cases to a special federal court. (In Re: Incretins Products Liability, Sales and Marketing Litigation, MDL 2452, United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation).
Anyone affected by cancer after taking Januvia is encouraged to visit the DrugNews Center or speak with a lawyer about their legal options. However, due to the specialized nature of federal drug injury cases, DrugNews only recommends lawyers who have already handled Januvia lawsuits.
For more information on the research, side effects and litigation news related to Januvia and other drugs, or to speak with a lawyer, visit http://www.DrugNews.net.
*Reuters, 5/1/13; reuters.com/article/2013/05/01/us-merck-results-idUSBRE9400D920130501
**Bloomberg, 2/25/13; bloomberg.com/news/2013-02-25/merck-bristol-diabetes-drugs-linked-to-pancreatitis-risk.html
***Gastroenterology, July 2011; ctsi.ucla.edu/education/files/publicview/training/docs/FDA-analysis.pdf
****JAMA Internal Medicine, 2/25/13; archinte.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1656537
*****ADA, 6/10/13; diabetes.org/for-media/2013/american-diabetes-association-incretin-therapy.html
Patient Advocate, DrugNews, http://www.DrugNews.net, 888-987-4866, [email protected]
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