Lawsuit Status Update: The Latest on Januvia Lawsuits

Januvia Lawsuits

Quick Refresher: Januvia (Merck & Co., Inc.) is a drug prescribed to help treat adults with type-2 diabetes. On September 25, 2009 the FDA issued a revision to the warning label of the drug Januvia or Janumet, a combination drug comprised of Januvia and Metformin, regarding Januvia side effects, including Januvia pancreatic cancer and Januvia thyroid cancer.

Latest Info:

The FDA is currently reviewing the scientific data on Januvia, Janumet, Byetta and Victoza, a type of type 2 diabetes medication known as incretin mimetics, as a result of the reported adverse events related to these medications.

Januvia lawsuits filed by patients who allege they have suffered acute, chronic pancreatitis or pancreatic cancer are moving ahead and it is anticipated that the number of Januvia lawsuits will only increase over the coming months.

Diabetes Drug Lawsuit Eligibility

• Patients who have developed pancreatic cancer after using any of the drugs involved in the litigation, or who developed pancreatitis after using the drugs, could be eligible to file a lawsuit against the makers of the drugs.

• Those who lost a loved one to pancreatic cancer after using Januvia, Janumet, Byetta or Victoza may also be eligible to file a lawsuit.

Januvia Lawsuit Update:

• To date, there are approximately 53 lawsuits in seven different US district courts that allege these medications are linked to pancreatic cancer.

• A motion was filed with the United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JDML) to consolidate all pancreatic cancer lawsuits filed by patients who used Januvia, Janumet, Byetta and Victoza.

• In a filing on 4/29/13, Merck, maker of Januvia, agreed to move the Januvia product liability lawsuits to federal court; the drug manufacturer requested that the claims be consolidated in United States District Court for the Southern District of California (San Diego), by Judge Battaglia. In its filing, Merck also stated that the MDL should be limited to pancreatic cancer cases.