Byetta deaths

Four more patients have died of pancreatitis after taking the diabetes prescription medication Byetta. The deaths were announced by Eli Lilly & Co. and Amylin Pharmaceuticals Inc. the companies manufacturing the drug. Several weeks ago, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced two two additional deaths.
While no definite relationship between Byetta and the additional deaths has been proved, according to the companies, they may have to add tougher warnings to prescribing instructions.
Byetta, which has been available in the U.S. since June 2005, is Amylin’s leading product, with global sales of $194.7 million. The companies previously agreed to warn of the risk of pancreatitis in October, after 30 milder cases were reported.
According to medical researchers, diabetes patients have a threefold risk of pancreatitis, or inflamed pancreas, and as many as 20 percent of patients with the condition develop complications. A spokesman for Amylin contended that patients taking Byetta weren’t at a greater risk for complications or death.
The companies’ have already announced a newt version of the drug which is designed to be taken weekly instead of the standard injections given twice daily. The FDA has not approved the new version and the recent information may cause concerns.