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.

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.

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. 

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