The dangers of Bristol-Myers Squibb and AstraZeneca diabetes medication may outweigh their benefits, according to U.S. regulators.
The two pills, which represent a new class of diabetes medication, are targeted not only at diabetics, but also those that suffer from high blood pressure and excessive weight gain.
Staff members at the Food and Drug Administration are concerned that the added health benefits of the medication may not outweight the dangers of potential bladder cancer and liver damage, both conditions of being a known side effect of the pills.
“As a result of these updated analyses the agency could not conclude with any level of confidence that the purported CV-benefit associated with dapagliflozin use outweighed the observed imbalance in specific malignancies or potential liver toxicity risks,” Jean-Marc Guettier, director of the FDA’s endocrinology product division, wrote in today’s report.
Simiar diabetes medications have been cause for concern in the past, including the rejection of dapagliflozin in January 2012, when concern was raised regarding its link to cancer as well as the potential for heart attack and stroke, even if there was some noted long term cardiovascular benefit.
The FDA is scheduled to make their final judgement on approval by January of 2014.
With new drugs appearing on the market daily, both doctors and patients alike must do their homework and consider the potential side effects and serious risks that come with prescription medication. Medication should treat the issue, not create a problem. If you or anyone you know is taking or considering starting a diabetes medication regimen, please consult with a specialist to understand what the potential dangers are in treatment.
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