Diabetes drug may have pancreatitis risk

According to breaking reports from the Food and Drug Administratio, a popular diabetes drug could be linked with an increased incidence of acute pancreatitis . The conclusions over Januvia, manufactured by Merck and Co. remain unclear however.
Association with pancreatitis has already hammered sales of the widely successful Amylin Pharmaceuticals drug Byetta, and it is possible that Januvia may be affected in a similar way. At this stage, it is unclear whether the pancreatitis link is down to the drug, or simply to a greater incidence amongst people with diabetes .
The agency was reported as commenting: “It is recommended that health care professionals monitor patients carefully for the development of pancreatitis after initiation or dose increases,” the agency said, in a statement. Because acute pancreatitis is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality, and early recognition is important in reducing adverse health outcomes, FDA is recommending revisions to the prescribing information to alert health care professionals to this potentially serious adverse drug event.”