After reviewing medical studies for the diabetes medications Bydureon (exenatide) and Victoza (liraglutide), the FDA requires these drugs display ‘black box’ packaging warnings about the risk of thyroid cancer. Even though Byetta contains the same active medication as Bydureon, there is currently no warning about Byetta and thyroid cancer.
Studies have suggested that Byetta side effects may increase the risk of thyroid cancer, yet the drug makers to have failed to provide adequate warnings for users or the medical community, placing their desire for profits before consumer safety. Therefore, financial compensation may be available for individuals who have experienced problems.
Cases for Byetta and Thyroid Cancer Diagnosis
Byetta (generic: exenatide) is an injectable medicine intended to manage type 2 diabetes. Byetta, a joint product of Eli Lilly and Amylin Pharmaceuticals, was granted approval by the U.S. food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2005. Exenatide is Byetta’s active pharmaceutical ingredient and simulate the actions of specific hormones. In mimicking the hormone, GLP-1, Byetta stimulates the pancreas to emit insulin and helps regulate blood sugar (glucose) levels.
When the FDA approved a competing GLP-1 diabetes drug, Victoza, in 2010, a “black box” warning was placed on the medication to provide information about reports of thyroid C-cell tumors seen during animal studies. The maker of Victoza was also ordered to conduct additional studies to evaluate the potential thyroid cancer risk in humans. Although Victoza and Byetta act in similar methods, Amylin and Eli Lilly failed to provide similar warnings about a risk of thyroid tumors, including thyroid cancer.
In January 2012, a long-acting version of Byetta was introduced by Amylin under the brand name Bydureon. When obtaining approval to market this new version of the drug, the manufacturer placed a “black box” warning about thyroid cancer on Bydureon.
Although Byetta and Bydureon contain the same active pharmaceutical ingredient, Amylin, the maker of both drugs, failed to provide the same warnings for users of Byetta and has wholly ignored the risk of thyroid cancer with Byetta.
Starting in 2012 there has been increasing public outcry for a stricter warning label, or even a Byetta recall. Much of the controversy centers on Dr. Butler’s 2011 study which found that Byetta users have 4.7 times higher risk of developing thyroid cancer than if they had used other kinds of diabetes treatments.
Byetta Cancer Research
Byetta has only been on the market for the last decade and there is little known about the long-term use of Byetta, however, researchers believe that prolonged exposure to its active ingredient may coincide with serious side effects, namely cancer.
Concerns about cancer have been raised regarding the entire class of diabetes drugs that work by mimicking the GLP-1 hormone. The FDA has required the makers of Byetta to conduct six post-marketing studies to help further define the mechanism, incidence, and risk factors for the development of cancers including thyroid and pancreatic cancers which have been linked to Byetta use.
The first indication of a problem with this class of medications came from animal studies, which found that mice exposed to these compounds had an increased likelihood of developing thyroid tumors.
Of particular concern, however, are reports that have established a link between the use of Byetta and the onset of aggressive forms of cancer. Subsequently, users of Byetta may be at an increased risk of developing thyroid cancer. Those unfortunate enough to have experienced such a complication may be eligible to sue the makers of Byetta.
Dr. Butler’s Cancer Study
Dr. Peter Butler published his study of a group of diabetes medications, which mimic hormones in the body in the journal Gastroenterology. Data from this study has seemingly establishes a link between Byetta diabetes medication and the onset of cancers, including thyroid cancer.
These scientists reviewed reports of thyroid cancer made to the FDA by patients taking these medications and their doctors, and compared them to the number of reports made for other types of diabetes treatments. The researchers found that the Byetta thyroid cancer risk was 4.73 times greater than the thyroid cancer risk.
Can I sue Byetta for causing cancer?
Byetta user’s frustrated that Byetta’s label and patient information did not disclose any information about a risk of thyroid cancer, unlike the labels of the closely-related medications Bydureon and Victoza, have hired our firm to sue the manufacturers for their injuries.
Watts Guerra LLP is an experienced team of trial lawyers that focuses on the representation of plaintiffs in Byetta lawsuits. We are handling individual litigation nationwide and currently accepting new Byetta lawsuits.
Written By:
Paige Boldt
Watts Guerra LLP
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San Antonio, Texas 78257
Phone (210) 447-0500
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