SAN ANTONIO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--On September 20, 2012, Plaintiff Moses Scott filed Moses Scott, Individually and as the Administrator of the Estate of Regina Kelly, Deceased vs. Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Amylin Pharmaceuticals, LLC, Eli Lilly and Company, and Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., which was removed to and is pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California, San Diego Division, Case No. 3:12-cv-02549. Moses Scott is the surviving brother of Regina Kelly. Ms. Kelly was prescribed and used the diabetes medications Januvia and Byetta beginning December 2007 and continued said use thereafter. As a result of ingesting these drugs, Ms. Kelly was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in October 2010.
On March 20, 2013, Plaintiff Rosalie Duhon filed Rosalie Duhon vs. Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., Novo Nordisk Inc., Novo Nordisk A/S, Amylin Pharmaceuticals, LLC f/k/a Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Eli Lilly and Company, and Does 1-100; In the United States District Court for the Southern District of California, San Diego Division, Case No. 3:13-cv-00662. Ms. Duhon was prescribed and used Byetta, Janumet, and/or Victoza beginning in February of 2006 and continued said use through at least May of 2010, when she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
Now Plaintiffs Scott and Duhon have requested that the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation consolidate all similar cases nationally, and transfer them to the United States District Court for the Southern District of California to coordinate all cases for pretrial proceedings before the Honorable Anthony J. Battaglia. It is unknown whether the various defendants will oppose the formation of an MDL.
The Food and Drug Administration recently began reviewing findings by a group of academic researchers that suggest pre-cancerous cellular changes may be associated with incretin mimetics, according to its statement released in mid-March. Incretin mimetics (“incretins”) are medications used to treat type 2 diabetics not able to control their blood sugar. Some incretins are administered orally and some are administered via injection.
Plaintiffs Scott and Duhon, along with victims across the country, allege incretins, and specifically Amylin’s Byetta/Bydureon, Merck’s Januvia/Janumet and Novo Nordisk’s Victoza all cause catastrophic side effects including an increased risk of pancreatic cancer. Among other claims, plaintiffs contend that Defendants failed to adequately warn users of the risks associated with incretins use, including this increased risk of developing an often-fatal form of cancer.
Mikal C. Watts and Ryan L. Thompson are proud to handle the largest incretins pancreatic cancer injury and wrongful death docket in the country. The dangerous drug lawyers at Watts Guerra encourage victims to investigate potential claims against pharmaceutical manufacturers by speaking to an experienced product liability lawyer quickly, to make sure their claims are filed within applicable time limitations.
Watts Guerra LLP has handled hundreds of thousands of mass action claims across the country, and has won some of the most significant legal victories in American history. For more information about Watts Guerra LLP, please visit our Website, find us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.
