If you are a Type II Diabetic who has taken Januvia or Janumet to control your blood sugar and later developed pancreatic cancer, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries.

Januvia (sitagliptin) was approved by the FDA on October 16, 2006 for use in adults with Type II Diabetes.  It is an incretin enhancer that suppresses the degradation of many peptides including GLP-1, and it is manufactured by Merck & Co., Inc.  In 2010, Januvia, sold in pill form, was prescribed close to six million times.  The medication is also available in a combination pill (known as Janumet) that contains the drug metformin.

In a study published in the online edition of the journal Diabetes, UCLA researchers found that Januvia caused abnormalities in the pancreas that are recognized as risk factors for pancreatitis and, with time, pancreatic cancer in humans.  A later study confirmed this suspicion, but conflicting information has come out of the scientific community.

We believe that Merck failed to adequately warn doctors and consumers about the risk of serious and potentially fatal Januvia side effects, including pancreatic cancer.  If you or someone you know has taken this medication and developed cancer, you should speak with us to learn more about your legal rights.

In 2009, the FDA revised prescribing information for Januvia and Janumet (sitagliptin and metformin) to include information on reported cases of acute pancreatitis in patients using the sitagliptin drugs. Risk factors for pancreatitis can also increase the risk of pancreatic cancer.

The FDA is now reviewing new findings by academic researchers showing an increased risk of pancreatitis and pancreatic duct metaplasia (pre-cancerous cellular changes) in type 2 diabetics taking incretin mimetics, including Januvia. According to the FDA, one study found that the incretin mimetics could double the risk of acute pancreatitis.