Home > Blog > Januvia and Byetta Double the Risk of Developing Pancreatitis

A new study published in the medical journal JAMA Internal Medicine finds that users of the diabetes treatments Januvia and Byetta have double the risk of developing pancreatitis.  After analyzing insurance records, it was found that patients hospitalized with pancreatitis were twice as likely to be taking one of these two diabetes treatments than a control group of diabetics without pancreatitis.

These drugs are incretin mimetics, or GLP-1 agonists, and work by increasing the hormone that stimulates insulin production in the pancreas.

The FDA has been aware of these problems for years, but after an unpublished study by academics of tissue samples that reveal an increased risk of pancreatitis and pre-cancerous cell changes, the FDA has decided to review these findings in order to provide better safety information to the public.  These changes seem to lead to pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), pancreatic cancer, and kidney failure.

While these drugs already have warnings about the risk of pancreatitis, they do not contain warnings about the possibility of developing pre-cancerous cells.

Drugs in the incretin mimetic class include:

  • Byetta, Bydureon
  • Victoza
  • Januvia, Janumet, Janumet XR, Juvisync
  • Onglyza
  • Kombiglyze XR
  • Nesina
  • Kazano
  • Oseni
  • Tradjenta
  • Jentadueto

Read the FDA’s complete Safety Communication here:

If you have been injured by JanuviaByettaVictoza, or any other diabetes drugs, the attorneys at dangerous drug attorneys at Kirkendall Dwyer LLP are ready to help you now.  These are serious drugs with serious side effects.  Contact us today for a free consultation.

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