Product News and Recalls

Study Says Byetta, Other GLP-1 Agonists May Release Sugar into Blood

byetta may make diabetes worseCambridge News reports on a new study that suggests certain type 2 diabetes medications may in fact be doing the very thing they’re supposed to prevent. The study, published last week in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, says drugs belonging to the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonist class, such as AstraZeneca’s Byetta, “may actually release sugar into the blood.” The findings are problematic, considering high blood sugar is one of the primary problems GLP-1 agonists are intended to treat.

Incretin mimetic drugs like Byetta and Januvia have already been linked to increased risk of pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. In 2013, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) launched an investigation into the health risks of incretin mimetics. Various other studies have also associated GLP-1 agonists and DPP-4 inhibitors with increased rates of pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer; and in August, the FDA issued a safety communication warning that certain incretin mimetics, such as Januvia and Onglyza, may cause severe joint pain.

In light of these findings, and considering the fact that these drugs have not sufficiently been proven to be more effective than other types of diabetes medication, patients have filed Byetta and Januvia lawsuits. Byetta and Januvia plaintiffs claim that the manufacturers misrepresented both the safety and efficacy of their drugs. Over 700 incretin-based drug lawsuits have been centralized in a multidistrict litigation in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California.

Speak with your doctor if you have any concerns about the medications you are taking. If you or someone you know was diagnosed with pancreatitis or pancreatic cancer after using an incretin mimetic like Byetta or Januvia, contact the pharmaceutical lawyers at Lopez McHugh for a free legal consultation. We can help you determine whether a Byetta or Januvia lawsuit is right for you.