European Studies Point to Possible Lantus Cancer Risk
Several European studies have raised concerns that patients taking the insulin analogue Lantus could be at a higher risk of developing cancer.
The Lantus cancer risk was seen in three of four retrospective studies involving a total of 301,136 insulin-treated patients in Germany, Sweden and Britain, Reuters said. According to a Wall Street Journal report, The Swedish study found double the risk of breast cancer among Lantus patients. Ae German study found that patients taking Lantus for an average of 18 months had a 9% higher risk of being diagnosed with cancer. Those taking a higher dose of Lantus had a 31% higher risk, the Journal said.
While the European Association for the Study of Diabetes called for more research on Lantus cancer, it did not tell patients or doctors to stop using the drug. According to Reuters, the Association also said that there is no evidence Lantus actually causes cancer; at worst it might promote growth of cancers that are already present but have yet to be diagnosed.
The American Diabetes Association also warned against over-reaction to a set of research papers that it said were “conflicting and inconclusive”, Reuters said.
