Controlling diabetes is a challenge. Sometimes diet and exercise are not enough, and medication is needed. Januvia (sitagliptin) is a once-a-day pill that helps lower blood-sugar levels in patients with Type-II diabetes.
Januvia is an incretin mimetic. This means that the medication is an artificial version of the natural hormone incretin. Incretin is the hormone that tells your body to release insulin after you eat. Other incretin mimetics include Janumet, Victoza, Byetta, and Bydureon.
In May, the US Food and Drug Administration announced that the agency was looking into new evidence that Januvia and other incretin mimetics can increase the risk of pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer.
Researchers looked at samples of pancreas tissue from deceased patients with diabetes who took medications like Januvia. They found that a significant number of patients showed evidence of inflammation from pancreatitis and pancreatic-duct metaplasia, a cell change that often precedes pancreatic cancer.
The study has not been published.
This is not the first evidence linking Januvia to pancreatic cancer. A 2002 study in the journalGastroenterology was the first of several studies to link Januvia to an increased risk of cancer. That study linked Januvia to a 2.7-fold increased risk of pancreatic cancer.
The risk occurs because of the way Januvia works. As Januvia lowers blood-sugar levels, it suppresses the production of the DPP-4 protein. DPP-4 prevents the production of insulin, but it also helps the body fight cancer by limiting tumor growth. Januvia may also be associated with other cancers, such as thyroid cancers.Cancer is not the only dangerous side effect associated with Januvia. Januvia may cause kidney damage and pancreatitis.
The FDA has already added information about pancreatitis to Januvia’s warning labels. Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas that can cause malnutrition, kidney failure, and pancreatic cancer and may be fatal if untreated. Patients taking Januvia are six times more likely to develop pancreatitis than the general population.
Patients with existing kidney problems are advised not to take Jauvia.
Patients who suffer pancreatic cancer, pancreatitis, or kidney failure after treatment with Januvia may be eligible for monetary compensation through a Utah Januvia injury lawsuit. To learn more about Januvia injury lawsuits, please contact the James Esparza Law Firm at 800-745-4050, and ask to schedule a free consultation with a Salt Lake City medication injury attorney.