Byetta is a drug administered via injection twice daily—within an hour prior to breakfast and dinner. Byetta (exenatide) is intended to treat Type 2 diabetes, mimicking the effects of incretins which are hormones produced and released by the intestines when a person eats a meal. The human-glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) increases insulin secretions from the pancreas, slows the absorption of glucose in the stomach and effectively slows the speed of the glucagon. Exenatide is a synthesized version of a substance found in the saliva of the Southwestern Gila monster and is 50% identical to a hormone found naturally in the human body. GLP-1 has been found to reduce the appetite by slowing the rate at which food leaves the stomach—although patients are cautioned against using Byetta as a treatment for obesity.

Those patients taking the drug Victoza for the treatment of their Type 2 diabetes are likely to have a number of questions regarding the safety of the drug. Whether the drug causes such serious health problems as pancreatic cancer, thyroid cancer, kidney disease and pancreatitis is currently being debated with a number of studies pointing to these dangers. Several studies have placed the risks of a patient taking Victoza and developing pancreatitis at as much as three times that of those taking an older diabetes drug, and the risks of pancreatic cancer is significantly increased as well. Victoza works by mimicking the actions of incretin hormones in the body.

Byetta is one among the many newer drugs which treat Type 2 diabetes, in a class known as incretin mimetics. Approved by the FDA in 2005, over thirty reports came into the FDA regarding adverse health events within the next two years. Those thirty people developed pancreatitis after taking Byetta; twenty-two of those had symptoms severe enough to result in hospitalization. Over half of these people saw their symptoms alleviated once Byetta was discontinued. Since that time there have been at least two deaths attributed to Byetta, and more reports sent to the FDA. Research has pointed to a link between Byetta and thyroid cancer, pancreatic cancer and pancreatitis, and while the drug has not been recalled, the number of lawsuits against the manufacturer of Byetta has been steadily increasing.

A recent study of pancreatic cancer among patients taking Victoza, a drug used in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes, reported by eHealthMe and based on FDA reports showed that as of June 14, 2013, 11,308 people have reported serious side effects while taking Victoza. Eighty-three of those patients have developed pancreatic cancer, with over 85% of those 83 people developing the pancreatic cancer within 12 months of beginning the drug. Of these 83 people, 40% were female, and 60% were male with an age range of 50-75.