Byetta® and Pancreatitis

The U.S. Food & Drug Administration has linked the popular type 2 diabetes drug Byetta to a number of serious, life-threatening side effects including pancreatitis, hemorrhagic pancreatitis, necrotizing pancreatitis and death.

IMPORTANT: There are no signs or symptoms that distinguish acute hemorrhagic or necrotizing pancreatitis associated with Byetta from the less severe form of pancreatitis.

If you or a loved one have developed pancreatitis while taking Byetta, you should contact us immediately. You may be entitled to compensation for your injuries and we can help.

Breaking News – Michael E. Schmidt Files First Byetta Lawsuit in the Country

AMYLIN PHARMACEUTICALS DIABETES DRUG BYETTA® THE FOCUS OF CALIFORNIA LAWSUIT – (8/19/08) A Virginia man yesterday filed what is believed to be the first personal injury lawsuit stemming from injuries associated with the use of Byetta®, an injectable medication for diabetes.

What is Byetta?

Exenatide (marketed as Byetta) is the first of a new class of medications (incretin mimetics) approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. It is manufactured and marketed by Amylin Pharmaceuticals and Eli Lilly and Company. Exenatide is a synthetic version of exendin-4, a hormone in the saliva of the Gila monster, a lizard native to several Southwestern American states. It displays properties similar to human GLP-1.

Exenatide is a 39-amino-acid peptide that mimics the GLP-1 incretin, an insulin secretagogue with glucoregulatory effects. While it may lower blood glucose levels on its own, it can also be combined with other medications such as pioglitazone, metformin, sulfonylureas, and/or insulin (not FDA approved yet) to improve glucose control. The approved use of exenatide is with either sulfonylureas, metformin and thiazolinediones. The medication is injected subcutaneously twice per day using a pre-filled pen device. Typical human responses to exenatide include improvements in the initial rapid release of endogenous insulin, suppression of pancreatic glucagon release, delayed gastric emptying, and reduced appetite – all of which function to lower blood glucose. Whereas some other classes of diabetes drugs such as sulfonylureas, thiazolinediones, and insulin are often associated with weight gain, Byetta often is associated with significant weight loss. Unlike sulfonylureas and meglitinides, exenatide increases insulin synthesis and secretion in the presence of glucose only, lessening the risk of hypoglycemia. Byetta is also being used by some physicians to treat insulin resistance.

What is Pancreatitis?

According to the Mayo Clinic, the pancreas is a long, flat gland tucked behind your stomach between the upper part of your small intestine (duodenum) and your spleen. It plays important roles in both digestion and metabolism. These functions may be affected by pancreatitis, an inflammatory condition that occurs when pancreatic digestive enzymes become active within the gland and attack the pancreas itself.

Pancreatitis can be acute — appearing suddenly and lasting for a few days — or it can be chronic, developing gradually and persisting over many years. Both acute and chronic pancreatitis are marked by mild to severe abdominal pain, often with nausea, vomiting and fever. And both can lead to serious complications.

Heavy alcohol use and gallstones are the primary causes of pancreatitis, but other factors, including certain medical conditions, some drugs and genetic mutations also can lead to the disorder. Sometimes the cause is never found.

Mild attacks of acute pancreatitis often improve on their own or after simple dietary changes, but more severe cases may require immediate medical care to avoid fatal complications. Chronic pancreatitis is usually treated with lifestyle changes, with enzyme supplements to improve digestion and sometimes with surgery.

Learn More About Pancreatitis:

• Acute pancreatitis
• Chronic pancreatitis

Additional Information:

• Download the Complete Patient Information Sheet (August 2008)
• Byetta FDA Pancreatitis Warning

FDA Video: Pancreatitis in Patients Taking Byetta for Diabetes

Below is an excellent video published by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), which warns patients of the link between pancreatitis and Byetta.

Read the Full Transcript: Pancreatitis in Patients Taking Byetta for Diabetes

Do I Have a Byetta Lawsuit?

The Defective Drug & Products Liability Litigation Groups at our law firm are an experienced team of trial lawyers that focus exclusively on the representation of plaintiffs in Byetta lawsuits. We are pursuing individual litigation nationwide and currently accepting new Byetta side effects and pancreatitis cases in all 50 states.

If you or a loved one have developed pancreatitis while taking Byetta, you should contact us immediately. You may be entitled to compensation for your injuries and we can help.