Byetta, a drug approved for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes may carry significant risks for diseases such as thyroid cancer, pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. Byetta, a synthesized version of a hormone found in the saliva of the Southwestern Gila lizard, is taken by the patient via an injection twice daily prior to breakfast and dinner. The active ingredient in Byetta is exenatide and is in a class of drugs known as incretin mimetcs. Exenatide imitates the actions of incretin which is normally produced by the intestines to suppress the release of glucose from the liver.
The exenatide also slows the rate at which the stomach empties following a meal which slows the rise of blood glucose. This action stimulates the beta cells of the pancreas, causing them to produce more insulin. While believed to be a major advancement in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes, the ingredients in Byetta may lead to inflammation of the pancreas due to lesions caused by the drug. That inflammation could in turn lead to pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer and thyroid cancer as well as a variety of less serious but nonetheless concerning side effects.
Byetta Thyroid Cancer
While it is unknown whether Byetta may be responsible for an increased incidence of thyroid cancer, some studies conclude there is a two-fold risk of thyroid cancer among Byetta users. In 2009 the FDA published a safety communication regarding Byetta, asking the manufacturer of the drug to begin a series of post-marketing surveillance studies to explore a “serious risk of thyroid cancer…” Those studies were meant to help the FDA define the incidence and risk factors behind Byetta thyroid cancer. A study reported in the journal Gastroenterology found that Byetta could have “serious unintended and unpredicted side effects.” The researchers in this study analyzed reports submitted to the FDA from 2004-2009, finding thirty reports of Byetta thyroid cancer among users of the drug. While there are limitations to these reports, there does appear to be enough evidence to warrant further investigation.
Byetta Safety Problems Related to Thyroid Cancer
Because Byetta thyroid cancer is one of the rarest types of cancers, research on the disease is more difficult than for other, more common cancers. When DNA mutates inside the thyroid gland cells, those cells begin rapidly growing and multiplying, eventually forming a tumor. Drugs such as Byetta—in the GLP-1 class—could increase the risk of thyroid cancer. The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped organ located in the front of the neck which produces hormones which regulate the way the body uses energy. Some of the more common symptoms of thyroid cancer include a lump or swelling in the neck, pain in the neck or ears, hoarseness, trouble breathing or swallowing or a frequent cough unrelated to a cold. If your doctor suspects thyroid cancer he or she may order a biopsy of the thyroid gland.
Byetta Thyroid Cancer Attorneys
If you have been diagnosed with thyroid cancer after taking Byetta, you have certain legal rights and should review your potential Byetta thyroid cancer claim with a highly experienced Byetta Thyroid Cancer attorney in order to receive a comprehensive evaluation. You may be entitled to compensation for your medical expenses, pain and suffering and lost wages.