2013 — In 2013, the FDA was still investigating the link between incretin mimetics and pancreatic disease. They released a drug safety communication reporting the possibility of incretin mimetics increasing the risk of pancreatitis as well as causing pre-cancerous changes in the pancreas. They also cited a study, which was unpublished at the time, that found how the use of exenatide or sitagliptin can double the risk of developing acute pancreatitis.
A 2013 study in the medical journal Diabetes found that patients using incretin mimetics had a higher rate of pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer than patients using other diabetes medications.
References: Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “FDA Investigating Reports of Possible Increased Risk of Pancreatitis..” U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA, www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/fda-drug-safety-communication-fda-investigating-reports-possible-increased-risk-pancreatitis-and-pre. Butler, Alexandra E., et al. “Marked Expansion of Exocrine and Endocrine Pancreas With Incretin Therapy in Humans With Increased Exocrine Pancreas Dysplasia and the Potential for Glucagon-Producing Neuroendocrine Tumors.” Diabetes, American Diabetes Association, 1 July 2013, diabetes.diabetesjournals.org/content/62/7/2595.short.
