What is Januvia?
Januvia, also known as Sitagliptin, is a diabetes medication that increases insulin production in your pancreas. Merck manufacturers this drug and was approved for use in the United States in 2006. The drug has proven effective in treating diabetes but has many adverse side effects that have resulted in lawsuits that have been combined into multidistrict litigation in California.
What are the side effects?
People who use Januvia report side effects including sore throat, headache and congestion. Other less common side effects include allergic reactions that cause swelling or trouble breathing.
What’s New in 2023? Januvia Lawsuits Update
As of 2023, most of the lawsuits that claimed Januvia and Sitagliptin usage cause pancreatic cancer and pancreatitis were dismissed by a federal court judge in 2021. The judge did not believe there was a proven link between pancreatic cancer and these diabetes drugs. The dismissal was based on the current scientific evidence, which did not support the claims at that time.
However, it is important to note that this does not mean there is no association between diabetes drugs and pancreatic cancer. It merely indicates that the plaintiffs’ lawyers were unable to prove that connection.
In August 2022, a new concern was raised when Merck’s Januvia was found to be contaminated with a potential carcinogen called nitrosamine or NDMA. The FDA is allowing the drug to remain on the market, fearing shortages. It is always a concern when potential carcinogens are found in a drug already feared to potentially cause cancer. However, as of now, no new NDMA Januvia litigation is anticipated, unlike what has been seen with other drugs such as Zantac and Valsartan.
Are There Any Other Recent Januvia Related Lawsuits?
Yes, in addition to lawsuits related to side effects, Merck also faced a patent lawsuit related to Januvia. The generic drugmaker Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc. challenged Merck’s patent on Januvia, but a U.S. appeals court upheld the patent’s validity in 2023. The upheld patent, which is on a salt form of the drugs’ active ingredient, would keep generics in that form off the market until at least 2027.
There have also been concerns about Merck’s marketing of Januvia. The FDA has raised concerns about the marketing of Januvia, and there have been dozens of product liability lawsuits launched against the manufacturers of Januvia and related diabetes treatment drugs. These lawsuits allege that the manufacturers were aware of the serious health risks associated with these diabetes drugs and failed to act on the information in a timely manner. Furthermore, the manufacturers allegedly downplayed the risks of Januvia side effects, preventing patients and their prescribing physicians from having all the information they needed to make informed medical decisions.
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