Recent studies have found that patients who take the type 2 diabetes medication Onglyza may have an increased risk of developing serious side effects including pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, heart failure and thyroid cancer.
Free Confidential Lawsuit Evaluation: If you or a loved one developed pancreatic cancer or heart problems after taking Onglyza (generic: saxagliptin), you should contact our law firm immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a class action suit against the manufacturer and and our lawyers can help.
Update: Onglyza Heart Failure Lawsuits Centralized in Kentucky
February 5, 2018 – JPML has voted to consolidate all federal lawsuits alleging heart failure injuries from Onglyza and Kombiglyze XR for pretrial handling in the Eastern District of Kentucky. The Panel issued an Order Friday transferring all such claims to the Kentucky court, which will be overseen by the Honorable Karen K. Caldwell.
Overview
Onglyza (saxagliptin) is prescribed to lower blood sugar levels in patients with type 2 diabetes (a condition in which blood sugar is too high because the body does not produce or secrete insulin normally). The drug is classified as a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor, and works by increasing the amount of insulin produced by the body after meals when blood sugar is high.
What’s the Problem?
Recent studies indicate that side effects of Onglyza may increase the risk of chronic pancreatitis, which can lead to pancreatic cancer. Other research has identified a potential link between Onglyza, heart failure and thyroid cancer. As a result, it appears that the manufacturers failed to adequately warn of the risks associated with Onglyza.
Onglyza and Pancreatic Cancer
In March 2013, a study published in Diabetes found that pancreatic tissue from patients treated with incretin mimetics had evidence of increased pancreatic mass and pre-cancerous cellular changes. This has further increased concerns about a potential association between Onglyza and pancreatic cancer.
Symptoms of pancreatic cancer include:
- Upper abdominal pain
- Yellowing of skin and eyes (jaundice)
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Depression
- Blood clots
Heart Failure
In addition to the concerns about a potential risk of cancer, recent studies have also found that side effects of Onglyza may increase the risk of heart failure in certain users. In September 2013, a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) found that diabetic patients treated with Onglyza had an increased rate of hospitalization for heart failure.
In February 2014, FDA kicked off an investigation into the potential link between Onglyza and heart problems, which will involve an analysis of trial data to determine what regulatory actions — such as a warning label update or nationwide Onglyza recall — may be necessary.
Symptoms of heart failure include:
- Chest pain
- Cough (may be dry or with phlegm)
- Fast breathing / shortness of breath
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Loss of appetite
- Excess urination at night
- Swollen feet / legs
- Weight gain
Onglyza and Thyroid Cancer
In 2009, FDA asked the makers of Januvia (sitagliptin), an incretin mimetic in the same class as Onglyza, to investigate the potential link between the drug and thyroid cancer. Two years later, the agency issued a Safety Communication after studies indicated an increased rate of malignant thyroid tumors in laboratory rats treated with another incretin mimetic, Victoza (liraglutide).
Yet another incretin mimetic, the Byetta Pen (exenatide injection), has also been linked to increased rates of thyroid cancer. Based on these findings and numerous reports of incretin mimetic users developing thyroid cancer, additional research is being performed to investigate the potential link between Onglyza and thyroid cancer.
MDL Proposed for Onglyza Heart Failure Lawsuits
Nov. 1, 2017 – A man alleging to have developed heart failure from the use of Onglyza has requested multidistrict litigation (MDL) status for his and all other similar claims. Plaintiff suggested the Northern District of California as the venue for the proposed litigation, noting that several cases have already been filed there, and that at least one plaintiff is based in San Francisco.
Texas Man Alleges Heart Failure from Onglyza, Kombiglyze XR
March 10, 2017 – A Texas man has filed a products liability lawsuit alleging that Onglyza and Kombiglyze XR caused him to develop heart failure. Plaintiff Wrendell Chester claims he took both drugs to treat his type 2 diabetes from 2010 to 2015, after which he suffered congestive heart failure, heart failure and acute hypoxic respiratory failure as a result of side effects of the medications.
Kentucky Man Alleges Heart Attack from Onlgyza
August 30, 2016 – A Kentucky man who allegedly had a heart attack after taking Onglyza for just 2 months has filed a product liability lawsuit against AstraZeneca and Bristol-Myers Squibb. plaintiff alleges that his healthcare provider would not have prescribed him the medication had they been adequately warned about its potential side effects, including the risk of heart failure and related adverse events. He blames the manufacturers for failing to provide adequate warnings about these risks on the labeling of Onglyza.
Do I Have an Class Action Onglyza Lawsuit?
The Product Liability & Defective Drug Litigation Group at our law firm is an experienced team of trial lawyers that focus on the representation of plaintiffs in Onglyza Lawsuits. We are handling individual litigation nationwide and currently accepting new cancer and heart failure cases in all 50 states.
Free Confidential Case Evaluation: Again, if you or a loved one was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, thyroid cancer or heart failure after taking Onglyza (generic: saxagliptin), you should contact our law firm immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a class action suit and our lawyers can help.