It can be incredibly frightening to be told that you have cancer, and pancreatic cancer is responsible for the fourth most cancer deaths among men and women. According to recent reports and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) research, Januvia (sitagliptin) may increase the risk of suffering from pancreatic cancer brought on by acute pancreatitis.

A Diabetes Epidemic

Worldwide, there are more than 300 million individuals suffering from diabetes, including almost 10% of Americans. This creates a massive market opportunity for pharmaceutical companies intending to glean profits from this expansive population. Researchers estimate that the worldwide population of diabetes sufferers may eclipse 400 million by 2030 with more than 50 million in North America. This has created a market of more than $41 billion for diabetes treatment alone.

Pharmaceutical giant Merck has ventured into the diabetes drug market with its product, Januvia. Januvia is a relatively new entrant to the diabetes drug market, being approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) back in 2006. The introduction of Januvia to the market brought with it a new class of diabetes drugs known as dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors. The Food and Drug administration (FDA) approved Januvia as a substitute to diet and exercise for improving glycemic control.

In 2011, Merck’s Januvia grossed more than $3 billion in sales, growing significantly in recent years. The more widespread use of Januvia has attracted more scrutiny over its potential Januvia side effects and complications. A recent study of Januvia adverse event reports by a team at the UCLA medical school has determined that there may be a significant link between the use of Januvia and pancreatic cancer.

The research study found that there may be as much as a six-fold increase among those taking Januvia in the risk of developing pancreatitis, a leading risk factor in pancreatic cancer. Between 2006-2009, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) received more than 80 complaints related to Januvia and acute pancreatitis, with a majority requiring hospitalization. According to reports, approximately 45,000 Americans are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer each year and approximately 38,000 Americans die from pancreatic cancer each year.

Januvia and Pancreatic Cancer Lawsuit

If you or a loved one has taken Januvia for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes and has subsequently developed pancreatic cancer, you are not alone. You may be entitled to financial compensation from the manufacturers through a Januvia Pancreatic Cancer Lawsuit against the makers of the potentially harmful drug. In fact another drug taken by diabetics, Byetta is also being linked to pancreatic cancer. For more information see Byetta Pancreatic Cancer Lawsuit. There is reason to believe that the manufacturer knew or should have known about these potential Januvia pancreatic cancer risks. Please call one of our pharmaceutical liability lawyers today for a free consultation regarding your Januvia Lawsuit. All Januvia lawsuits are processed on a contingency fee basis, which means that you don’t pay anything unless your case is successful.