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 has also been linked to a higher risk of thyroid cancer.
A recent investigation by the medical journal BMJ found compelling evidence that drug manufacturers were aware of this risk, yet took steps to keep the public from learning about it.
An ADA news release quotes the investigative editor for BMJ who wrote the piece as saying: “On their own, the individual pieces of unpublished evidence may seem inconclusive, but when considered alongside other emerging and long-standing evidence, a worrying picture emerges, posing serious questions about the safety of this class of drug.”
MedPage Today quotes Robert Ratner, MD, chief scientific and medical officer of the ADA, is quoted as saying: “People who are taking these medications, or who may consider taking them, should have the benefit of all that is currently known about their risks and advantages in order to make the best possible decisions about their treatment and care in consultation with their healthcare providers,”
The ADA has announced its intent to review applications from academic and research organizations that can handle large experimental databases to conduct the studies, according to MedPage Today.
You should consult with a doctor if you have any ongoing symptoms or health concerns, and before making any changes in medication. You should also consult with a Lopez McHugh attorney if you or a loved one was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer after taking Januvia or Byetta.
