Byetta/Januvia Pancreatic Cancer

FDA accused of inadequate response to diabetes drugs

An investigation in the medical journal BMJ faults the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for its tepid response to reports that diabetes drugs including Byetta and Januvia may be linked to pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer.

Both the FDA and the European Medicines Agency are conducting investigations into that class of drugs, called incretin mimetics, the story says. And both agencies have confirmed that their own analyses show increased reporting or signals ...

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Byetta manufacturer demands court order before sharing safety information

In the course of an investigation about the class of diabetes drugs that includes Byetta and Januvia, the medical journal BMJ uncovered evidence suggesting that manufacturers tried to repress evidence linking the drugs to serious health problems.

A growing body of evidence has linked incretin therapies such as Byetta and Januvia to both pancreatitis (a potentially deadly inflammation of the pancreas) and pancreatic cancer. Byetta has also been linked to thyroid ...

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Diabetes group wants drug-makers to release info

According to a story in MedPage Today, the American Diabetes Association is calling for makers of diabetes drugs such as Byetta and Januvia, classified as “incretin therapies,” to release all of the data on their drugs for a review.

The ADA’s demands come as a growing body of evidence links drugs such as Byetta and Januvia to a potentially deadly inflammation of the pancreas called pancreatitis, and to pancreatic cancer. Byetta ...

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Research shows promise for distinguishing pancreas ailments

Mayo Clinic researchers say they’ve uncovered “promising” findings for a method designed to distinguish between pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. According to a report on News-Medical.Net, the two conditions can be difficult to tell apart.

Cancer that affects the pancreas is a particularly dangerous form of the disease, with a five-year survival rate of only 5 percent. Pancreatitis, on the other hand, is an inflammation of the pancreas that can sometimes lead ...

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Diet and exercise program helps diabetics

A study from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that one in nine people with diabetes saw their blood sugar levels drop down to normal or “pre-diabetes” levels after participating in an intensive, year-long diet and exercise program, Reuters reports.

Although complete remission of Type 2 diabetes is rare, researchers say the results show promise for using lifestyle changes to get people off medication and reduce their risk ...

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Januvia “red flags” cited by investors

In a video posted on investing Website Motley Fool, contributing writer Max Chatsko says there are a couple of “red flags” investors should be aware of regarding Merck’s bestselling Januvia/Janumet franchise for treating type 2 diabetes.

Revenue from that franchise fell 2 percent in the first quarter of 2013, compared to the same period in 2012. And while that may not seem like much, the same franchise had double-digit growth almost ...

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