Onglyza (saxagliptin) is a medication used to treat Type 2 diabetes by regulating insulin levels after a patient eats. This may be used in conjunction with other medications or used alone. However, it is intended only for treating Type 2 diabetes and not for treating patients who are suffering from diabetic ketoacidosis. Onglyza was approved by the FDA in 2009 and is manufactured by AstraZeneca in partnership with Bristol-Myers Squibb.
While it was considered safe at the time of its first approval, there is increasing academic evidence that the drug increases the risks for cardiovascular problems, some of which can be fatal. This is why more patients are speaking with an Onglyza lawyer about their potential for filing a lawsuit. The Food and Drug Administration has been a critical component of raising the alarm about the potential harm associated with Onglyza.
Patients who have been injured by this medication allege that:
- The company did not safely market this medication
- The company knew about the dangers of this drug but failed to warn the public and marketed it anyways
- The company manufactured a dangerous drug to begin with
Patients and family members who have suffered injuries as a result of taking Onglyza may be entitled to compensation in the form of wrongful death expenses, punitive damages, medical costs, pain and suffering and lost wages. Every potential case of medical injury associated with a dangerous or defective drug needs to be evaluated separately. This is why it is essential to set up a consultation with an Onglyza lawyer sooner rather than later.
FDA Warns Patients About Potential Onglyza Risks
The FDA’s warning about Onglyza’s potential risks is a result of the SAVOR study involving nearly 16,500 patients. In this study, 1,220 of these patients examined experienced a major cardiovascular event. In this study, the manufacturer was responsible for demonstrating that Onglyza could not increase heart failure or other cardiovascular risk by more than 30%. The SAVOR study indicates that patients taking Onglyza were at a 27% higher risk of hospitalization for heart failure when compared with those patients in the control group.
Although the manufacturer met this required threshold, the FDA panelists shared that more details were necessary in order to determine the actual risk of death. If you or someone you know has recently suffered heart failure or another major cardiovascular event after taking Onglyza or a similar medication, you may have grounds to file a lawsuit for compensation.
Some of the symptoms of heart failure include:
- Fatigue
- Persistent wheezing or cough
- Irregular heart rate
- Swelling of feet, hands or ankles
- Difficulty breathing
This most recent study is not the first time that Onglyza has been called into question. In 2013, a separate study indicated that use of Onglyza was linked with a higher risk of pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer was identified in individuals who took Onglyza, especially males over the age of 60 who took the drug for between 1 and 6 months and also took the drug Simvastatin. More than 2,600 individuals participated in this study and 19 of them had pancreatic cancer.
More on Onglyza Lawsuits
Many Onglyza users and their family members have decided to take legal action by filing claims as a result of the medications link to unanticipated health issues. Users of Onglyza allege that they have suffered serious medical conditions as a result of their use of the drug and that the manufacturer was aware of these risks but chose not to share it with the public. Some users have already filed lawsuits against AstraZeneca after experiencing health problems associated with their Onglyza use.
In February 2018, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) consolidated federal Onglyza lawsuits into multi-district litigation (MDL) in the Eastern District of Kentucky. However, in August 2022, U.S. District Judge Karen K. Caldwell ruled that plaintiffs had not offered admissible expert testimony indicating that use of Onglyza is associated with adverse cardiovascular issues and granted the defense’s motion for summary judgement. As of October 2022, 239 lawsuits remain active in this MDL, and plaintiffs intend to appeal Judge Caldwell’s decision in order to secure the compensation they rightfully deserve.
If you have recently lost a loved one as a result of his or her use or suspected use of Onglyza, you and your family members may be eligible for compensation.
*Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome in any future matter.