Additional deaths associated with Eli Lilly diabetes drug, Byetta

Eli Lilly and Amylin Pharmaceuticals produce Byetta, which has been on the market since 2005.  It is Amylin's best-selling drug, according to the New York Times.  This week the companies acknowledged that a total of six deaths have been associated with the drug and related to pancreatitis.  These deaths bring into question the wisdom of approving the pending long-acting variety of the drug, since a longer half-life for the drug would make it that much harder to address pancreatic inflammation promptly.