The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) plans to strengthen warnings about life-threatening pancreas problems linked to the type 2 diabetes drug Byetta, after receiving two reports of deaths and four other hospitalizations in Byetta users.

All six patients had hemorrhagic pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas with bleeding) or necrotizing pancreatitis (in which the inflamed pancreas destroys itself).

The four survivors were still recovering at the time that the FDA learned of their illness.

Byetta, given by injection, was approved by the FDA in 2005. Last October, the FDA noted 30 reports of acute pancreatitis (sudden inflammation of the pancreas) in Byetta users.