Regulator notes potential cancer risk for weekly Byetta

A top regulator at the FDA has noted that data on the long-acting diabetes drug Byetta from Amylin and Eli Lilly indicate that the drug could be linked to a higher risk of cancer similar to that seen in Novo Nordisk's Victoza. Both are GLP-1 analogs. Analysts were quick to note that if the FDA responds with a black box warning on the risk, the companies were likely to see a slower uptake. The FDA temporarily delayed its decision on the once-weekly therapy after raising a few questions about the program. Regulators didn't ask for a new study, which would have caused an indefinite delay. Report