New Byetta Pancreatic Cancer Allegation Lawsuits Update: Resource4thePeople Reports Key Hearing Scheduled over Possible Creation of Multidistrict Litigation
San Diego, CA (PRWEB) July 24, 2013 -- http://www.resource4thepeople.com/defectivedrugs/byetta.html
Resource4thePeople announced today its latest update for consumers about pancreatic cancer lawsuits allegations linked to Byetta and similar type 2 diabetes medications that involves an important federal court proceeding.
The news involves the scheduling of a July 25 hearing at which the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation will consider oral arguments from lawyers over whether a multidistrict litigation should be created for lawsuits* alleging that Byetta and similar drugs caused cancer of the pancreas or thyroid.
"This is a very important hearing because this federal panel will decide whether federal lawsuits alleging that the use of Byetta and other incretin mimetics should be consolidated before a single federal court judge," said Resource4thePeople.
"In court filings the defendants have agreed with the consolidation of these lawsuits and that the proper court for these cases should be the U.S. District Court, Southern District of California in San Diego."
Resource4thePeople notes that the court file shows there are at least 42 lawsuits in the petition now before the Judicial Panel but other consumers would be eligible to file additional cases in the future if the multidistrict litigation is approved.
"We will also continue to provide free legal consultations to consumers who may be seeking information about what legal options they may have to seek compensation for their allegations involving pancreatic or thyroid cancer," said Resource4thePeople.
Resrouce4thePeople also recently announced extended time eligibilities for consumers seeking these legal consultations.
That announcement was made in order to clarify the status of consumer inquiries after the Food and Drug Administration's March 14, 2013 announcement** about its investigation into possible links between these medications and pancreatitis and cancer.
the announcement informed consumers who may have been using the medications before and after the announcement that both are eligible to seek consultations through a national team of attorneys.
The FDA identified these drugs as exenatide (Byetta, Bydureon), liraglutide (Victoza), sitagliptin (Januvia, Janumet, Janumet XR, Juvisync), saxagliptin (Onglyza, Kombiglyze XR), alogliptin (Nesina, Kazano, Oseni), and linagliptin (Tradjenta, Jentadueto).
The complimentary consultations were offered in response to a large volume of inquiries from consumers triggered by the FDA's announcement that it is investigating reports of possible increased risk of pancreatitis and pre-cancerous findings of the pancreas from incretin mimetic drugs.
“There are a significant number of Americans who treat their diabetes with these medications and the FDA announcement has had widespread ramifications in terms of patients seeking information about their legal options,” said Resource4thePeople.
“In its announcement, an FDA spokesman said that the findings were based on examination of a small number of pancreatic tissue specimens taken from patients after they died from unspecified causes."
The FDA has asked researchers to provide the methodology used to collect and study these specimens and to provide the tissue samples so the agency can further investigate potential pancreatic toxicity associated with the incretin mimetics.
Byetta was originally approved by the FDA and released onto the market in 2005, with its primary function being to help patients with diabetes manage their condition.
It is applied by injection and it and the other incretin mimetics, according to the FDA, mimic the incretin hormones that the body usually produces naturally to stimulate the release of insulin in response to a meal.
The agency said the medications are used along with diet and exercise to lower blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes.
In its announcement, the FDA reiterated a previous public warning “about postmarketing reports of acute pancreatitis, including fatal and serious nonfatal cases, associated with the use of incretin mimetic drugs exenatide and sitagliptin.”
An agency official also said that a recently published study that examined insurance records also found the use of exenatide or sitagliptin could double the risk of developing acute pancreatitis.
The official said that the Warnings and Precautions section of the drug labels and the patient Medication Guides for incretin mimetics contain warnings about the risk of acute pancreatitis.
Resource4thePeople also is providing consumers some of the cautionary analysis about Byetta and its sister drugs. Here are some of the warnings and precautions taken from the agency’s web site:***
What is the most important information I should know about BYETTA?
Serious side effects can happen in people who take BYETTA, including inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis) which may be severe and lead to death.
Before taking BYETTA, tell your healthcare provider if you have had:
• pancreatitis.
• stones in your gallbladder (gallstones).
• a history of alcoholism.
• high blood triglyceride levels.
These medical conditions can make you more likely to get pancreatitis in general. It is not known if having these conditions will lead to a higher chance of getting pancreatitis while taking BYETTA.
Resource4thePeople also is recommending that consumers update themselves on media reports about the side effects, such as one recently posted by Bloomberg News about the research study and concerns about the safety of the medication as voiced by the FDA earlier and by physicians:****
“Doctors have been concerned that this category of diabetes treatments may damage the pancreas since the FDA said in 2007 it received a high number of reports of pancreatitis in patients taking Byetta.
http://www.resource4thepeople.com/defectivedrugs/byetta.html
Sources:
- MDL #2452 In Re: Incretins Products Liability, Sales and Marketing Litigation, U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation
**http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/DrugSafetyPodcasts/ucm344232.htm
***http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Drugs/DrugSafety/UCM191084.pdf
****http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-03-22/diabetes-drugs-may-cause-damage-to-pancreas-study-finds.html
Bill Callahan, iLawSuit, 858 602-2749, [email protected]
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