DrugNews Alerts of Study Calling for New Testing Over Januvia Pancreatic Cancer Risks
New York, NY (PRWEB) August 28, 2013 -- The diabetes drug safety center at DrugNews.net is advising patients taking the medications Januvia or Janumet of new information on the site. A recent study finds that occurrence rates of pancreatic cancer may be higher with drugs like Januvia and calls for new testing*
The DrugNews resource center provides the latest warnings, recalls, studies and legal news to patients taking popular prescription drugs. Visitors can see if others are experiencing similar side effects and decide if they need legal advice.
Januvia and Janumet are ingestible diabetes medications prescribed to those with type-2 diabetes to lower blood sugar levels. In recent years, they have been the best-selling drugs for pharmaceutical company Merck**.
However, the resource center has added information showing experts disagree about whether Januvia and Janumet may be linked to cancer. In 2011, researchers from UCLA discovered subjects given Januvia had increased rates of pancreatic cancer and thyroid cancer***.
In February, the American Medical Association advised diabetes drugs like Januvia can double the risk of pancreatitis, a major risk factor for pancreatic cancer****. Last month, however, the FDA advised there is insufficient evidence at present to link diabetes drugs like Januvia to cancer or change warning labels*****.
Now, DrugNews has added a study by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices which finds indications in FDA reports that patients taking drugs like Januvia have elevated risks of pancreatic cancer*. The ISMP called for new safety testing as a result.
Due to the number of patients who have already filed a Januvia lawsuit alleging cancer, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation is considering consolidation of cases to a special 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 or Janumet is encouraged to visit the DrugNews Center or speak with a lawyer about their legal options. However, due to the specialized nature of these 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.
*ISMP QuarterWatch April, 2013; ismp.org/QuarterWatch/pdfs/2012Q3.pdf
**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
*****Pharmalive 7/30/13; pharmalive.com/fda-decides-no-risk-of-pancreatic-cancer-with-diabetes-drugs
Patient Advocate, DrugNews, http://www.DrugNews.net, 888-987-4866, [email protected]
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