DrugNews: New Report Causes Disagreement Over Safety of Byetta
New York, NY (PRWEB) August 13, 2013 -- The diabetes drug resource center at DrugNews.net is announcing updated information for patients taking the medication Byetta. Despite recent studies showing the drug may be linked to pancreatic cancer, the FDA has advised diabetes drugs like Byetta are safe and do not require label changes*.
DrugNews is a free service that offers patients taking popular prescription drugs the latest recalls, safety alerts, research and litigation news. Visitors can see if others are experiencing similar side effects and decide if they need legal advice.
Byetta is a popular injectable medication sold by Bristol-Myers Squibb prescribed to those with type-II diabetes to lower blood sugar levels**.
DrugNews has added warnings about a possible Byetta relation to cancer. A 2011 study from UCLA suggested the drug could increase the risk of pancreatic cancer and thyroid cancer***. This year, the Journal for the American Medical Association also advised that drugs like Byetta can double the risk of pancreatitis, a major risk factor for pancreatic cancer****.
Last month, the Institute for Safe Medication Practices reported findings that, of 1,069 cases reported to the FDA in 2012 of pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, thyroid cancer or a hypersensitivity reaction, 612 were linked to Byetta*****.
Now, DrugNews has learned that the FDA has advised, despite ongoing studies, there is no current evidence to show diabetes drugs like Byetta are associated with higher cancer rates and the agency will not change product labels*.
Due to the number of patients filing a Byetta lawsuit alleging cancer, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation is deciding whether to consolidate 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 Byetta 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 Byetta lawsuits.
For more information on the research, side effects and litigation news related to Byetta and other drugs, or to speak with a lawyer, visit http://www.DrugNews.net.
*Pharmalive 7/30/13; pharmalive.com/fda-decides-no-risk-of-pancreatic-cancer-with-diabetes-drugs
**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
*****ISMP QuarterWatch April, 2013.ismp.org/QuarterWatch/pdfs/2012Q3.pdf
Patient Advocate, DrugNews, http://www.DrugNews.net, 888-987-4866, [email protected]
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