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Victoza Pancreatitis

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Victoza, an injectable treatment for Type 2 diabetes, may be associated with acute pancreatitis. This dangerous inflammation of the pancreas is a known risk factor for pancreatic cancer.

Victoza Pancreatitis Investigation

The nationwide law firm of Bernstein Liebhard LLP is now investigating possible legal claims involving Victoza and pancreatitis. If you or a loved one were diagnosed with acute pancreatitis while using Victoza, please call (888) 994-5118 to discuss your options with a member of our legal staff.

Victoza: What’s the Problem?

Victoza was launched by Novo Nordisk in 2010, and is indicated to lower blood glucose levels in Type 2 diabetics in conjunction with diet and exercise. Thanks to a marketing campaign that featured celebrity chef Paula Deen, Victoza soon became one of Novo Nordisk’s most popular products. By 2012, Victoza sales hit $1.7 billion, accounting for more than 12% of the company’s annual sales.

Despite, this success, Victoza has continued to be plagued by safety concerns. Some of its potential side effects include:

• Pancreatic cancer
• Thyroid cancer
• Pancreatitis
• Renal failure
• Severe allergic reaction

In fact, when the FDA initially approved Victoza, it did so against the recommendations of two of its advisory panels. Among other thing, the agency’s reviewers were concerned about Victoza’s link to pancreatitis.

Reports of Pancreatitis Rise among Victoza Patients

According to the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP), the FDA received reports of more than 100 cases of acute pancreatitis and pancreatitis linked to Victoza within the first nine months of its approval. The FDA itself acknowledged in 2011 that more patients suffered from pancreatitis while taking Victoza in clinical trials than patients treated with comparable drugs.

In 2014, an analysis conducted by Public Citizen uncovered, 278 unique case reports of acute pancreatitis that occurred during Victoza therapy in the FDA’s adverse event database. The consumer advocacy group determined that all of the incidents occurred relatively soon after initiating therapy, and most cases (60%) required hospitalization. Public Citizen also noted three deaths involving Victoza patients, including two from complications of acute pancreatitis.

What is Pancreatitis?

Pancreatitis occurs when the pancreas become inflamed. The disorder may present as acute pancreatitis, in which symptoms appear suddenly and last for days. Or it may present as chronic pancreatitis, which occurs over many years. While a mild case of pancreatitis may resolve itself without treatment, a more severe occurrence can cause life threatening complications.

Symptoms of acute pancreatitis include:

• Upper abdominal pain
• Abdominal pain that radiates to the back
• Abdominal pain that feels worse after eating
• Nausea and vomiting
• Abdomen is tender to the touch

Chronic pancreatitis is associated with the following symptoms:

• Upper abdominal pain
• Unexplained weight loss
• Oily, smelly stools (steatorrhea)

Acute pancreatitis can lead to a number of serious complications, including:

• Pseudocysts: The collection of fluid and debris in cyst-like pockets that form in the pancreas. The rupture of a pseudocyst can lead to life-threatening internal bleeding and infection.
• Pancreatic Infection
• Breathing problems
• Diabetes
• Kidney failure
• Malnutrition
• Pancreatic cancer: Long-term inflammation of the pancreas is a known risk factor for pancreatic cancer.

Where You Diagnosed with Pancreatitis While Using Victoza? Our Law Firm Can Help.

You may be entitled to compensation if you or a loved one were diagnosed with pancreatitis while using Victoza. To learn how the attorneys at Bernstein Liebhard LLP can help you pursue a Victoza lawsuit, please call (888) 994-5118.