Januvia & Janumet Diabetes Drugs

Our Januvia and Janumet lawyers are investigating potential lawsuits throughout the United States for claims on behalf of victims who took the drugs and have suffered from acute pancreatitis (including hemorrhagic or necrotizing pancreatitis). Pancreatitis can lead to life-threatening illness.  These Januvia and Janumet lawsuits will allege product liability, negligence and failure to warn claims against Merck & Co., Inc., the manufacturer.

Januvia and Janumet are drugs used to treat specific types of diabetes. Januvia is a prescribed pill taken once-daily to help manage blood sugar in adults with type-2 diabetes.  Janumet is a prescription used to manage blood sugar in adults with type-2 diabetes mellitus.    

Type-2 diabetes (also known as adult-onset diabetes and non-insulin dependent diabetes) affects the body’s metabolization of sugar.  With type-2 diabetes, the body is either resistant to the effects of insulin, or does not manufacture enough insulin.  The effect is that the body cannot maintain a normal glucose level. 

Januvia and Janumet are new classes of drugs known as sitagliptin which are dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors or blockers.  These DPP-4 blockers help the body to manage blood sugar levels.  They increase the amount of insulin manufactured by the pancreas when blood sugars are their highest (usually after eating).  They also lower the amount of sugar manufactured by the liver after eating, when the body does not need it. 

 Januvia and Janumet may cause acute pancreatitis.  On September 25, 2009, the FDA issued a warning to healthcare professionals that the drugs have been associated with 88 cases of acute pancreatitis (including hemorrhagic and necrotizing pancreatitis) by patients using sitagliptin.  These 88 cases were found using the FDA’s post-market surveillance, and occurred between October 2006 and February 2009. 
       Acute pancreatitis is the sudden inflammation of the pancreas.  It is very dangerous and can be life-threatening.  The warning signs of pancreatitis are:

• Upper abdominal pain that may radiate to the back
• Abdominal pain that feels worse after eating
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Tenderness of the abdomen

      In cases of necrotizing pancreatitis, the pancreatic tissue begins to die, and abdominal bleeding may occur. 

The FDA is concerned about Januvia and Janumet because they have received numerous reports that patients using the drug have developed acute pancreatitis.  66% of those patients required hospitalization, and four of the patients were transferred to the intensive care unit.  Many of these Januvia and Janumet patients developed acute pancreatitis shortly after starting the drugs or changing dosage.  Over half of the cases resolved after Januvia and Janumet were discontinued. 
      Acute pancreatitis can be fatal.  The FDA is warning patients and their healthcare providers to watch for the warning signs listed above, and to closely monitor patient health immediately after starting the drug or changing the dose.  They are working to update Januvia and Janumet’s warning labels to reflect these new dangers.  Click here to see the FDA’s warning to healthcare professionals.     

For updates on the dangers and litigation surrounding Januvia and Janument, please visit our Drug Recall Lawyer Blog

Do you have a potential Januvia lawsuit? Our lawyers honestly do not know. But our attorneys are investigating these cases. Why? Because where there is smoke, there is often fire. Certainly, 88 cases of pancreatitis makes you wonder: did Merck properly test this relatively new drug? We are a long way from a recall but there is plenty of cause for concern.

If you or a loved one has used Januvia or Janumet diabetes drugs and suffered from acute pancreatitis or death, please call one of our Januvia and Janumet attorneys at 800-553-8082 or click here for a free no obligation consultation on your potential Januvia or Janumet lawsuit.

• FDA Warning
• Drug Injury Lawyer Blog Post Discussing Januvia and Janumet