If you or someone you love is a diabetic who was prescribed the drug Onglyza and then developed heart failure, know that you aren’t the only one looking for answers. Across the country, patients want to know:
Our firm is here to support you during this difficult time and help you find answers to those questions.
Millions of dollars have been spent in researching Type 2 diabetes which affects almost 10% of all Americans. While there is always hope that one day a cure may be found, until then, pharmaceutical companies are constantly working to create new drugs that may treat the condition better than ever before.
That’s how Ongylza came to be. This medication, which is taken orally, was designed to help patients with Type 2 diabetes regulate their insulin levels.
The drug was created by global pharmaceutical companies AstraZeneca and Bristol-Myers Squibb to compete with several others that are part of a group of Type 2 diabetes medications that are DPP-4 inhibitors, referred to as incretin-based therapies. These drugs encourage the pancreas to create more insulin and also work to stop the liver from creating excess sugar, the combination of which results in lowered blood sugar levels as the insulin allows sugar to enter cells and be used as a source of energy.
Every single new drug that comes into the market must first go through a rigorous review by the U.S. Food And Drug Administration. Onglyza went through this process and was approved by the FDA on July 31st, 2009.
However, the approval process isn’t perfect and regularly drugs make it through that go on to cause serious damage to patients.
In 2013, a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that there may be an increased risk of heart failure in patients who had been taking Onglyza. Following the release of this study, the FDA approached the manufacturers of the drug with a request – that they submit clinical data to the FDA for review.
Two clinical trials were reviewed and as a result, the FDA issued a new warning which alerted the medical community and the public to the fact that there was a potential risk of heart failure in patients who were prescribed the medication, especially if the patients already suffered from heart disease or kidney disease. In addition to this, they required the label begin to include the warning in April of 2016.
The manufacturers of a drug have a responsibility to the people that may end up taking any medication they produce. In addition to being responsible for creating a safe product, they must also determine if there are risks associated with the product and provide a warning to those who may develop serious side effects as a result.
If they fail to do so, patients who are harmed as a result may be eligible to file a personal injury lawsuit against them.
A hundred years ago there was almost no way to treat someone with heart failure. Today, much of that has changed. Patients can be treated through a variety of methods, specifically tailored to their condition. This may include surgery, medications, hospitalization, and outpatient treatments. These treatments, however, aren’t cheap and can leave a patient with thousands of dollars in unexpected costs.
A lawsuit may be able to recover those losses. In addition to compensating the plaintiff for their medical expenses, it may also cover lost earnings, physical pain and suffering, and even, in some cases, emotional trauma.
If you believe that your loved one died after starting the drug Onglyza, you may be able to pursue a wrongful death lawsuit. Like a personal injury complaint, this lawsuit can provide the surviving loved ones of the patient with compensation for the deceased’s medical expenses, lost wages, and physical pain and suffering. Additionally, they may be able to recover additional damages to pay for funeral and burial expenses, loss of consortium, and loss of inheritance.
Our team has years of experience in handling defective drug complaints and are ready to answer all questions that you might have about your rights, the legal process, and our background.
Together, we will fight for the compensation you both need and deserve. Given the seriousness of the Onglyza side effects, it is expected that the number of lawsuits filed against AstraZeneca and Bristol-Myers Squibb will grow steadily over the coming months, as patients take a stand and demand answers.
Continue Reading: Ladder Recall: Manufacturers Face Lawsuits For Defective Products
Onglyza manufacturers' website: Side Effects of Onglyza
New England Journal of Medicine: Saxagliptin and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
WebMD: Onglyza (Saxagliptin)