The Food and Drug Administration or FDA has warned that users of Onglyza may have an increased risk of developing congestive heart failure over time. A resolution was passed at a recent FDA advisory committee meeting that Onglyza uses a clear warning on the package about the patient’s risk of developing heart failure. In fact, this warning was not included on the label of the drug previously which has led to numerous filings of Boston Onglyza lawsuits.
If you or a family member had taken Onglyza and suffered heart failure or if someone known to you using Onglyza has died as a result of heart failure, you can ask for compensation from the manufacturer of the drug. But one important thing to understand is that AstraZeneca is a multi-billion dollar pharmaceutical company with a team of trusted Boston mass tort lawyers looking after its interest. Hence, it may not be easy to win a lawsuit against such a company without the assistance of a reputable law firm in Boston. That’s where we – Dalimonte Rueb Stoller – come to the picture. Call us for a free consultation and to learn more about your rights.
Why Is Onglyza Linked To Heart Failure?
Cardiovascular disease is a leading health issue in the United States that leads to thousands of deaths per year. The CDC states that over 647,000 patients die due to heart disease each year. That’s almost one in every four deaths in the country. In fact, heart disease costs the country about $219-billion annually.
If a person with type-2 diabetes is using Onglyza, the link between the medication and heart disease is alarming. The FDA began to study how the drug increases the risk of heart failure after growing concerns across the country. This investigation was able to reveal worrying issues between the use of Onglyza and Kombiglyze XR and heart failure.
Can Onglyza Cause Pancreatic Cancer?
Onglyza stimulates the pancreas to release more insulin in type-2 diabetes patients. The medication has been linked to increasing the patient’s risk of pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. A study in 2013 showed how DDP-4 inhibitors affect the pancreas. The study revealed that patients who had type-2 diabetes and using Onglyza had a higher chance of an enlarged pancreas. These people have a significant risk of having precancerous cellular changes in their pancreas – which could lead to pancreatic cancer in the long run.
The FDA released another “drug safety alert” in 2013 stating that the findings of the research suggested an increased probability of precancerous cellular changes and pancreatitis in patients who were using incretin mimetic to treat type-2 diabetes. Onglyza, Nesina, Byetta, and Januvia are some of the medications that are listed as incretin mimetics. Another study in 2014 involving a major trial on Onglyza found no risk of pancreatitis or pancreatic cancer.
Is Onglyza Linked To Thyroid Cancer?
Victoza is an incretin mimetic similar to Onglyza. In fact, Victoza is linked to malignant thyroid cancer as well as acute pancreatitis in rodents that were treated with the drug in clinically relevant doses. The FDA issued a safety warning in 2011 revealing the risk of thyroid cancer from the use of Victoza. The FDA has also received numerous reports of patients diagnosed with thyroid cancer after the use of prescribed incretin mimetics such as Januvia (sitagliptin) and Byetta (exenatide).
Has Onglyza Been Recalled?
No, and it’s unlikely for a recall to be issued any time soon. Although the recalls see, forthcoming, one cannot ignore the reality of cancer, heart failure, and other fatal health issues as a result of using the drug. Vioxx is one medication that was recalled due to causing heart attacks and strokes. In fact, the same fate may fall upon Onglyza and other incretin mimetics that are found to increase the risk of heart failure of the user. But the only significant measure currently taken by the FDA is to demand the manufacturer of the drug to have a safety warning on the product’s label.
Are There Any Ongoing Class Action Lawsuits Involving Onglyza?
In fact, medication injury cases are very rarely filed under “class action” lawsuits. A few plaintiffs will represent the others who have lawsuits against a drug company. The best way to file such a case is to do it individually.
The United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation ordered the existing lawsuits filed against Onglyza and Kombiglyze to be consolidated. This happened in January 2018 in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky. There were almost around 100 of such cases by May 2018 that formed consolidated litigation called MDL 2809. Other lawsuits are still pending at the California State Court.
Can One File A Lawsuit Against Onglyza Despite No FDA Recall?
The FDA panel has already recommended the inclusion of a clear warning about the risk of heart failure on the label of the medication. Many people are asking why the warning was not included when Onglyza was released 10 years ago. This means the patients who used Onglyza for the past 10 years were unaware of any potential heart risk. These patients may have suffered serious side effects after using the medication without knowing the actual cause for it.
The law in Boston, MA, states that patients who used Onglyza and suffered severe heart failure could seek compensation from the company because the pharmaceutical company making the drug has failed to provide the public with necessary safety warnings about such a risk.
Speak With a Lawyer About Your Boston Onglyza Lawsuit!
If you or a family member has taken Onglyza and suffered any heart failure, hospitalization, or death due to using the drug, you should consult the dedicated Boston class action law firm of Dalimonte Rueb Stoller. Our team has successfully represented different people from across the United States. We have a deep understanding of how pharmaceutical companies such as AstraZeneca and Bristol Meyers Squibb are expected by law to ensure doctors and patients are fully aware of any risk associated with using their drugs. If the company has failed to do this, it’s liable for damages suffered by the patients who have used the drug.
At Dalimonte Rueb Stoller, our expert team of lawyers has dealt with many cases related to Onglyza. In fact, we have a deep understanding of the flaws of the medication. We are your best bet to face the manufacturers of Onglyza and win. Call our law team today at (833) 44-DRLAW for a free consultation or to learn about your rights!
