When to Seek Byetta Legal Representation

Perhaps you are one of the many people who have taken Byetta, a drug you were told was safe, only to find you have developed a potentially serious illness as a direct result. Byetta (exenatide) was originally manufactured jointly by Eli Lilly and Amylin Pharmaceuticals. In 2011 the two companies parted with Amylin taking “custody” of Byetta. A year later Amylin sold its company to Bristol-Meyers-Squibb for $5.3 billion dollars. While there were indications that Byetta could have some serious risk factors, almost from the beginning, when it gained FDA approval in 2005, little mention was made of these risks.

Three different times—in 2007, 2008 and 2009—the FDA required Amylin to update Byetta’s labeling to reflect health concerns. These concerns were a result of reports from Byetta users regarding pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer and thyroid cancer. Between 2008 and 2009, there were additionally seventy-eight reports of kidney issues among Byetta users. While a relatively small number of lawsuits have been filed against the manufacturer of Byetta to date, it expected many more will follow. One study published in the journal Gastroenterology stated the risk of Byetta thyroid cancer among those taking the drug was as much as four times that of a person taking a diabetic drug which did not contain exenatide as well as risks of pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer.

Ensuring You Don’t Miss the Byetta Statute of Limitations

One of the more pressing reasons for obtaining Byetta thyroid cancer legal representation sooner rather than later lies in the statute of limitations which surrounds such lawsuits. Texas, like the majority of states, operates under a two-year statute of limitations while other states may have a 1,3,4,5, or 6 year statute. Missing this date could prevent a person who has suffered serious harm from Byetta from recovering a settlement. Although the statute of limitations generally runs from the time a recall has been issued, in the case of Byetta no such recall has been issued as yet. This means determining the exact time the statute begins can be a bit more difficult.

A knowledgeable Byetta attorney can look objectively at the individual circumstances surrounding your case, presenting you with a comprehensive evaluation and the best options for your future. You should not be stuck with huge medical expenses and lost wages related to an illness you suffered from a drug you believed to be safe.

Sullo & Sullo, LLP prides itself on being a client-focused law firm. With a reputation for exceptional personal attention, unmatched professionalism, zealous advocacy, and a commitment to the utilization of innovative and interactive technologies, our firm has been able to serve over 160,000 clients for more than a decade.  We wish you the best in your pursuits and encourage you to engage our firm for legal representation. For more information, visit Sullolaw - Byetta Legal Representation

Questions about the Diabetic Drug Byetta

Is Byetta Linked to Pancreatic and Thyroid Cancer?

Those patients with Type 2 diabetes may have heard about potential problems with the diabetic drug, Byetta, and are wondering whether Byetta has actually been linked to pancreatic cancer and thyroid cancer. Between 2005 when Byetta gained FDA approval and 2007, the FDA received 30 reports of acute pancreatitis. The next year six more people reported suffering acute pancreatitis after beginning Byetta. Two of those six patients died while the other four spent considerable time in the hospital. Those who develop pancreatic cancer likely have a history of pancreatitis, perhaps from taking Byetta. Unfortunately, pancreatic cancer has a very low survival rate and is generally diagnosed in the latter stages.

Symptoms of pancreatitis include severe pain in the abdomen, nausea, fever and vomiting and, in some cases, changes in bowel movements, a rapid heartbeat and swelling in the abdominal area. Although the various studies differ in the exact numbers, overall it appears there is a six-fold increase in pancreatitis, a three-fold increase in pancreatic cancer and a two-fold increase in thyroid cancer among Byetta users. The FDA required the manufacturer to increase the warnings on Byetta labels first in 2007, again in 2008 and once again in 2009.

The labeling noted the potential risks of Byetta, particularly pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, Byetta thyroid cancer and renal failure. A 2010 FDA advisory panel pointed to the fact that exenatide was responsible for a higher than normal number of thyroid tumors among laboratory rats. The FDA expressed alarm regarding the huge number of extended release diabetic drugs currently being taken in the United States by diabetics, noting the potential of thyroid tumors among humans as well.

Did the Manufacturer of Byetta Exhibit a Failure to Warn?

Although there has been no recall of Byetta as of this writing, lawsuits continue to mount. Those who were harmed by a drug they believed to be safe are consulting attorneys to file a Byetta lawsuit. As with many cases involving dangerous drugs and huge pharmaceutical companies many wonder whether Amylin exhibited a failure to warn consumers.

The failure to warn allegation may include the failure to sufficiently test Byetta, the failure to advise physicians to monitor patients taking Byetta carefully for signs of pancreatitis and the failure to mention the risk of pancreatic cancer on the original Byetta labeling.

If you believe you have a Byetta thyroid cancer lawsuit, it could be advantageous for you to speak with a knowledgeable Byetta attorney, as you may be entitled to compensation for your medical expenses, pain and suffering and lost wages associated with Byetta.

Filing a Byetta Lawsuit for Harm You Suffered From the Drug

Byetta, a drug marketed for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes, was approved in 2005 by the FDA. Since that time Byetta (exenatide) has labored under research which points to the potential of Byetta to cause serious illnesses such as thyroid cancer, pancreatic cancer and pancreatitis among those taking the drug. Byetta is given via injection, in the upper thigh, abdomen or upper arm twice daily prior to breakfast and dinner. Along with diet and exercise, Byetta helps adults with Type 2 diabetes control their blood sugar levels.

Millions of prescriptions have been written for Byetta, however between 2005 and 2007 thirty reports of Byetta users developing pancreatitis came in to the FDA. The next year six reports of necrotizing pancreatitis were communicated; two of those patients subsequently died from complications. The next year, 78 reports of kidney problems were tied to Byetta. The FDA required Amylin Pharmaceuticals to increase warnings on the labeling of Byetta in 2007, 2008 and 2009 after these adverse health reports.

Byetta Thyroid Cancer Lawsuit

Some research points to the fact that those taking Byetta could be at a two-fold risk of developing thyroid cancer while taking the drug. While Byetta thyroid cancer is much more treatable than pancreatic cancer, it is nonetheless serious. A study published in Gastroenterology reported that more than 1,000 patients have been diagnosed with pancreatitis and at least 375 patients have been diagnosed with Byetta thyroid cancer or pancreatic cancer. Exenatide contains the synthetic form of a hormone occurring naturally in the saliva of the Southwestern Gila lizard which is fifty percent identical to GLP-1—a hormone found naturally in the body’s digestive tract. While exenatide does appear to lower blood sugar among Type 2 diabetics, it may overstimulate beta cells, leading to the potential of cancerous cells.

Should You File a Byetta Thyroid Cancer Lawsuit?

Although there are currently no MDLs or mass tort actions filed in the Byetta cases, it is expected there will be as more patients who have been harmed by Byetta come forward. Whether a Byetta thyroid cancer lawsuit or a Byetta pancreatic cancer lawsuit, the allegations against the manufacturer of Byetta are serious. There may have been a failure to warn on the part of Amylin. Amylin sold to Bristol-Meyer-Squibb in 2012 for a whopping $5.3 billion dollars.

Only one small clinical trial was conducted prior to Byetta’s release, and although the FDA has ordered the manufacturer to complete further studies it appears the results of those studies have not yet been reported. Those patients who took Byetta, believing it to be safe, only to develop a serious disease could benefit from considering Byetta thyroid cancer legal action. Class action suits may also be filed in the future, however in many cases, particularly for those more seriously harmed, a class action settlement will simply not compensate for the level of medical expenses, lost wages and pain and suffering. It’s important to carefully consider all legal options regarding Byetta injuries prior to making a decision which could affect your entire future.

Byetta Thyroid Cancer Safety Concerns

Byetta, a drug marketed for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes, has come under fire for potential problems including a greater risk of thyroid cancer, pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. The active ingredient in Byetta is exenatide, originally manufactured by Amylin Pharmaceuticals. Exenatide is a synthetic version of a hormone found in the saliva of the desert Gila monster. Byetta comes in a pre-filled pen which the patient injects into the stomach, thigh or upper arm, within an hour prior to breakfast and dinner. The synthetic hormone is also fifty percent identical to a hormone known as GLP-1 which is found naturally in the human digestive tract. GLP-1 increases insulin in the body to balance out blood sugar when it is higher than it should be.

Potential Byetta Dangers

Byetta has also been found to cause weight loss as it slows the rate at which the stomach empties although patients are cautioned against using Byetta as a weight loss drug. Though Byetta gained FDA approval in 2005, adverse reports soon began filtering in of potential Byetta dangers. Thyroid cancer, pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer all appear to occur more often among those taking exenatide than in those taking certain other diabetic drugs. It has been found that people bitten by a real Gila monster tend to be at a much higher risk of developing pancreatitis as the hormone in the saliva of the reptile overstimulates the pancreas. This overstimulation may result in pancreatitis and repeated bouts of pancreatitis can set the stage for pancreatic cancer.

Information Regarding Byetta

Over 700,000 people have been prescribed Byetta since its approval in 2005—in 2007 thirty post-marketing reports of Byetta patients who developed acute pancreatitis were sent to the FDA. While this may not seem like a huge number considering the amount of people taking the drug, since that time many more reports have occurred. Of the original 30, 22 showed immediate improvement of their pancreatitis symptoms once Byetta was discontinued. In 2006 Diabetes Care Journal reported a case of a 69-year old man taking Byetta who developed pancreatitis symptoms within 24 hours of beginning the drug.

Risks of Byetta

Byetta patients may have as much as a three-fold risk of developing pancreatic cancer and a six-fold risk of developing acute pancreatitis. The risk of Byetta thyroid cancer appears to be at least two times the rate of that for other diabetics according to a recent study published in the Institute for Safe Medication Practices. Although Byetta thyroid cancer is considered much more treatable than pancreatic cancer, it is nevertheless a serious disease.  The American Gastroenterology Association reports in its official newspaper that more studies are needed in order to determine the specific risks associated with Byetta.

Other Potential Side Effects of Byetta

Aside from the potential risks of Byetta pancreatitis, thyroid tumors and thyroid cancer and pancreatic cancer, in some cases Byetta can cause a severe allergic reaction which causes swelling of the face, lips, throat or tongue or severe shortness of breath. A constant dull pain in the middle or lower back, severe pain in the upper stomach, jaundice, confusions, unusual drowsiness, extreme mood changes or a decrease in urination are other potential side effects of Byetta.

Byetta FDA Safety Concerns

Over 700,000 patients have used the drug Byetta since it received FDA approval in 2005. By 2007, however, Byetta FDA warnings were being issued regarding potential dangers of the drug including thyroid cancer, pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. Thirty adverse reports came in to the FDA between 2005 and 2007, then in the following year six cases of necrotizing pancreatitis were reported as well, with two fatalities among those six Byetta patients.

What is Byetta?

Byetta is a twice-daily injectable drug used in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes. The drug’s active ingredient, exenatide, is a synthetic form of the saliva of the Southwestern Gila monster, and is fifty percent identical to the GLP-1 hormone found naturally in the human digestive tract. GLP-1 works by increasing the body’s insulin in order to balance blood sugar. The synthetic form of this hormone remains effective for a longer period of time than the hormone which occurs naturally in the body. Byetta’s “perk” is that it appears to cause weight loss due to slowing the rate at which the stomach empties—although patients are cautioned against using Byetta as a treatment for obesity.

Byetta FDA Warnings

Byetta FDA warnings came in 2007, 2008 and 2009 as more adverse reports filtered in to the agency. Following thirty reports between 2005 and 2007 of Byetta users who developed pancreatitis—some cases serious enough to require hospitalization—the FDA upped the labeling requirements of Byetta to include a caution to physicians to warn their patients to seek medical assistance should they experience any symptoms of pancreatitis. In 2008—following the six reported cases of necrotizing or hemorrhagic pancreatitis—Byetta thyroid cancer FDA safety concerns amplified. The four living patients were taken off Byetta and Amylin, along with partner Eli Lilly, was ordered to add labeling warnings to patients to discontinue Byetta and see their physician if they experienced any symptoms of pancreatitis. Further, any patients receiving a diagnosis of pancreatitis were instructed to consider another drug to treat their Type 2 diabetes.

Potential Byetta Dangers

By 2009, 78 reports of renal issues had been reported to the FDA from Byetta patients and the labeling was once more changed to reflect more specific information regarding accounts of kidney issues among Byetta users. This series of labeling revisions were meant to allow doctors to make a more comprehensive risk vs. benefit assessment for their patients with Type 2 diabetes prior to prescribing Byetta. The FDA is currently taking a harder look at all those diabetes medicines which belong to a class of drugs known as incretin mimetics. Byetta falls within this class of drugs, and while a Byetta thyroid cancer potential recall is not yet on the horizon, those taking the drug should be aware of the potential dangers. Recent studies point to a two-fold increase in the incidence of thyroid cancer, a three-fold increase in the incidence of pancreatic cancer and a six-fold increase in the incidence of pancreatitis among those taking Byetta. 

Byetta Thyroid Cancer Legal Action

If you or a loved one suffered harm as a result of taking Byetta, it could be beneficial to consult with an experienced Byetta Attorney. You may be entitled to equitable compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering and lost wages.

Have Byetta Safety Problems Changed Your Life?

The marketing of Byetta, a drug manufactured to treat Type 2 diabetes, has suffered from recent reports that the drug carries a risk of thyroid cancer as well as pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. Other Byetta risks and dangers may be present as well. Additionally, Byetta liver problems and Byetta respiratory infections may be a potential risk among those taking Byetta. Byetta is injected twice a day, prior to breakfast and dinner and is a synthesized version of a hormone found in the saliva of the Southwestern Gila monster.

This hormone, known as exendin 4, was discovered in 1992 and is approximately 50% identical to a hormone occurring natural in the human digestive tract known as GLP-1. A diabetic may gradually lose the ability to produce the necessary amount of GLP-1 which allows blood sugar levels to rise. The exendin 4 found in Byetta prevents blood sugar from rising to potentially dangerous levels. A decrease in appetite due to Byetta’s ability to decrease the time in which the stomach empties after a meal can result in a reduction in weight however users are cautioned not to use Byetta to treat obesity.

Byetta Thyroid Cancer Risks

The active ingredient found in Byetta is exenatide, a substance which imitates incretin which occurs naturally in the intestines. Incretin suppresses the release of liver glucose, stimulating beta cells in the pancreas after meals are aten. Unfortunately, exenatide can also cause lesions which lead to pancreatic inflammation. This inflammation can lead to acute pancreatitis and even pancreatic cancer in some cases. Several studies place the risk of Byetta thyroid cancer at twice the normal rate among those taking the drug. A study published in Gastroenterology in 2011 connected Byetta with thyroid cancer as well as pancreatic cancer. Adverse reports submitted to the FDA were analyzed which resulted in the conclusion that Byetta thyroid cancer appeared to over four times as often in those taking exenatide as those taking another diabetic drug.   

Byetta Diabetes Medication Side Effects

In addition to the potential risk of thyroid cancer, Byetta may be responsible for kidney problems, some severe allergic reactions, hypoglycemia and a condition known as alopecia which is hair loss resulting when the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the hair follicles. In clinical trials, a significant number of those taking Byetta suffered hypoglycemia with such symptoms as intense hunger, irritability, problems with coordination, blurry vision, shaking, sweating, the inability to speak correctly, seizures and even a coma. Severe allergic responses to Byetta can manifest in the swelling of the face, mouth or throat, itching, hives or rash and in life-threatening cases a sudden drop in blood pressure and an inability to catch a breath

Byetta Thyroid Cancer Lawyers

If you have been diagnosed with Byetta thyroid cancer—or another serious disease—after beginning Byetta, you have important legal rights. Further, a statute of limitations exists which varies from state to state, limits the amount of time you may have to seek compensation for lost wages, medical expenses and pain and suffering. A qualified Byetta Attorney can review your potential Byetta thyroid cancer claim, offering you a complete evaluation regarding the merits of your case, and also take the required actions to preserve your case and protect your rights with the goal of allowing you to concentrate on getting well while looking out for your future.