Pancreatitis and Incretin-Based Tx: What’s the Risk?

the MPR take:

Safety concerns regarding a potential increased risk of pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer in patients with type 2 diabetes taking incretin-based drugs have been assessed in previous studies with conflicting results. In a new study published in the journal Diabetes Care, 16,492 patients with type 2 diabetes ≥40 years old with established cardiovascular disease or risk factors were randomized to receive either saxagliptin or placebo. Within 2.1 years of follow-up, the risk for pancreatitis in patients taking saxagliptin was low and no increased risk of pancreatic cancer was detected. Additional studies will still need to be conducted to fully resolve these pancreatic safety issues.