Januvia to Consolidate Lawsuits in Federal Court

Due to a rising number of patients filing Januvia lawsuits alleging serious side effects such as cancer, lawyers have requested that the cases be consolidated to a special federal multidistrict court in San Diego, California. (In Re: Incretins Products Liability, Sales and Marketing Litigation, MDL 2452, United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation) Merck, the maker of Januvia, has recently agreed to allow the growing number of injury claims to be moved to federal court. This will help expedite the legal process for the company and the injured patients. Januvia is one of a new type of diabetic medications called incretin mimetics. These medications work by simulating the action of incretin hormones, which are normally found in the gastrointestinal tract and stimulate the release of insulin after consuming a meal.

Risks Associated With Januvia Use

A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA; 4/8/13) found that treatment with Januvia was associated with an increased risk of acute pancreatitis. Furthermore, there is a link between pancreatitis and the development of pancreatic cancer. A study from UCLA suggests that use of this drug could also increase a patients’ risk of developing thyroid cancer by 48%. Both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency have launched serious investigations into the reported Januvia side effects. To date, nearly one hundred cases have been filed nationwide; however, the litigation is still in its early stages and experts anticipate the potential for thousands of claims. With sales of over $5 billion last year, Januvia and Janumet, another pill-form diabetes medication, were Merck’s best-selling drugs. These drugs are being used as first-line therapies and with over 100 million patients suffering from type II diabetes, or a predisposition to it, the population at risk is staggering.

National Januvia Lawsuit Lawyers

Patients who have been diagnosed with pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, or thyroid cancer after using the diabetic drugs Byetta and Januvia may be able to file a lawsuit. To learn more about your rights and legal options, call the Phillips Law Firm today. Our experienced national dangerous drug lawsuit lawyers have represented families across the country in their quest for justice. For a free consultation fill out our Free Case Review Form on the right or call 1-800-708-6000.