Victoza is a once daily medication that helps treat type 2 diabetes by regulating the amount of blood sugar levels in the body. Manufactured by Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk, Victoza was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in January of 2010. The active ingredient in Victoza is liraglutide, which functions by allowing glucose metabolization and insulin increasing the production of insulin in the body. Since the drug entered the market in 2010, Victoza has been under intense scrutiny due to its harmful and often deadly side effects. Most prominently, Victoza has been associated with pancreatitis, thyroid cancer, kidney failure and serious allergic reactions. However, even in the face of these dangerous risks, Victoza has continued to churn massive sales, to the tune of $670 million in 2011 alone. Most concerning is that Novo Nordisk was aware of these pitfalls even before the drug was accepted by the FDA in 2010. Nevertheless, despite these safety concerns, and despite many safety warning issued not only by the FDA but other health safety groups, Victoza continues to be sold to unassuming consumers. The Victoza attorneys at Downtown L.A. Law Group is currently accepting claims relating to injuries incurred as a result of the drug.

Victoza Side Effects

Victoza has been linked to several serious side effects, prompting FDA black box warning as a well as consumer backlash against the drug. Below is a list of the most common and harmful dangers associated with Victoza

Victoza Pancreatitis:

Pancreatitis is the inflammation of the pancreas, which is a large organ located behind the abdomen and near the small intestine. In the FDA’s own clinical trials, pancreatitis formed in 7 users and a June 2011 FDA Safety Communication indicated that 200 cases of acute pancreatitis and 28 cases of pancreatic cancer had been reported. This does not account for instances that remained unreported. It is estimated that only a small fraction (as low as ten percent) are actually reported, indicating that the risk of pancreatitis is far more prevalent than reported. Clinical trials have further indicated that users of Victoza are three to four times more likely of suffering from pancreatitis compared to patients taking other type 2 diabetes drugs.

Victoza Thyroid Cancer:

Thyroid cancer occurs as a result of abnormal cell formation in the thyroid gland. Initial studies of Victoza, conducted on animals, suggest that patients are two to three times more likely of suffering from thyroid cancer when compared to other diabetes drugs. In response, the FDA has required Novo Nordisk to conduct a five year study on the potential of thyroid cancer on humans. Unfortunately, however, the true risk of thyroid cancer in Victoza patients will not be known for several years, when the potential harm has already escalated.

Symptoms of thyroid cancer in patients of Victoza include:

• A lump on the outer body
• Breathing problems
• Inability or trouble swallowing
• Other Victoza Side Effects
• In addition to pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, and thyroid cancer, Victoza has been linked to other serious side effects, including:
• Renal failure
• Kidney failure
• Allergic reaction (often with fatal outcomes)
• Vomiting
• Abnormal heart rate

Filinga Victoza Lawsuit – Compensation for Your Injuries

Victoza lawsuits are based on the notion that Novo Nordisk, the drug’s manufacturer, was aware should have been on notice on the risks associated with the drug yet marketed the drug as safe anyways. In fact, the company went so far as to hire celebrity chef Paula Deen as the drug’s spokesperson. This despite mounting evidence that Victoza poses significant risks to its users. For example: In the summer of 2012, the FDA required a black box warning, the most severe warning that can be placed on a drug, on all Victoza boxes for risks of thyroid cancer, tumors, acute renal failure and the worsening of chronic renal failure.  An article published by the University of North Carolina in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology indicated that Victoza fails to lower blood sugar levels, as advertised, and fails to offer any health benefit whatsoever. The consumer advocacy group Public Citizen petitioned the FDA to recall all Victoza due to the fact that the drugs harms far outweigh its benefits.

Attorney Representation for Dangerous Side Effects from Diabetes Medication

The harms associated with Victoza are severe, and the our defective drug attorneys believe that patients who have suffered should be compensated. That is why Downtown L.A. Law Group is offering free case evaluation for victims affected by Victoza. To learn more about your rights, please contact one of our lawyers today.

More Information: Statute of Limitations for Filing a Lawsuit against Manufacturers of Victoza