Byetta

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Byetta Pancreatic Cancer lawsuits

Studies have shown that the risk of developing adverse disorders such as pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer and thyroid cancer are increased with the use of Byetta.

Byetta, also known as the Byetta Pen, is a twice-daily hypodermic injection used by millions of Type 2 Diabetics to control their blood sugar levels. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the Byetta Pen in April 2005.

It was announced by the FDA in 2007 that they had received numerous reports of pancreatitis in Byetta users.

In 2009, Amylin Pharmaceuticals were required to conduct post-marketing studies to “explore a potential signal of a serious risk of thyroid cancer and pancreatic cancer” and examine the risk factors for developing pancreatitis.

What is Pancreatitis?

Pancreatitis is the inflammation and swelling of the pancreas which could lead to hospitalization and even death in severe cases. Studies have shown that pancreatitis is 49 times more likely to occur in Byetta users than in patients who take alternative drugs in the same class.

Symptoms of Pancreatitis include:

Fever
Sweating
Nausea
Vomiting
Severe pain in the upper left side or middle of the abdomen - pain is worse after eating and drinking, especially fatty food
Swollen abdomen
Jaundice

Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancer (also known as exocrine cancer) is a malignant tumour which starts off in the tissues of the pancreas. It is seldom detected in its early stages and spreads rapidly.

Pancreatic Cancer symptoms:

Weight loss
Jaundice
Dark urine
Light stool colour
Nausea
Vomiting
Itching
Abdominal pain
Back pain
Enlarged lymph nodes in the neck

Thyroid Cancer

Thyroid cancer is cancer of the thyroid gland. Thyroid glands produce hormones, regulating normal body metabolism. The thyroid glands are situated in the front of the neck.

Thyroid Cancer symptoms:

Lumps or nodules in front of the neck (single or multiple) Enlarged lymph nodes in the neck Swallowing problems Voice changes or hoarseness Pain or discomfort in the neck Chronic cough

No Byetta recall has been issued.

Byetta lawsuits

Court documentation reveals that over 260 Byetta Pancreatic Cancer lawsuits have been filed in California against Amylin Pharmaceuticals and Eli Lilly and Co.

Allegations raised in the lawsuits include:

Failure to effectively warn consumers of the potential side effects associated with the product and not mentioning pancreatic cancer on the label
Failure to warn physicians regarding the significance of monitoring for first signs of changes to the pancreas which could have assisted users in identifying asymptomatic pancreatitis which ultimately leads to cancer following Byetta use
Insufficient testing of Byetta prior to introducing the diabetes pen. Only a small clinical trial involving short-term treatment as the basis of approval was conducted, even though it is used long-term by diabetics
Failure to issue a recall on Byetta after becoming aware that the risks outweigh the benefits of the product

Talk to a Byetta specialist advisor today