Björn Pasternak

Björn Pasternak

Principal Researcher | Docent
Visiting address: ,
Postal address: K2 Medicin, Solna, K2 KEP Askling Pasternak, 171 77 Stockholm

About me

  • 2002-2007 MD, Linköping University, Sweden
    2004-2008 PhD, Linköping University, Sweden
    2009-2016 Postdoc and Researcher, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
    2016- Senior/Principal Researcher, Karolinska Institutet
    2017- Associate Professor (docent), Karolinska Institutet

Research

  • Thriving on substantial expertise in large-scale register studies of adverse drug effects, we have the overall objective of using high-quality epidemiology to help inform evidence-based decisions in clinical practice. We have ongoing research programs in safety and effectiveness of new diabetes drugs, heart failure, pediatric pharmacoepidemiology, and the area of expedited assessment of current drug safety concerns. My team’s scope is not limited to one single disease entity or therapeutic area, rather, we are in a constant process of seeking out and addressing emerging drug safety concerns with implications for clinical practice. 

    TEAM MEMBERS
    * Peter Ueda, MD, PhD, assistant professor
    * Viktor Wintzell, PhD, coordinator/statistician
    * Henrik Svanström, PhD, senior statistician
    * Arvid Engström, MD, PhD-student
    * Carl-Emil Lim, MD, PhD-student
    * Laura Pazzagli, PhD, research specialist
    * Paulina Jonéus, PhD, postdoc

    OUR RESEARCH IS AND HAS BEEN FUNDED BY
    * Swedish Research Council
    * Karolinska Institutet Faculty Funded Consolidator Grant
    * Swedish Cancer Society
    * Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation
    * Thrasher Research Foundation
    * ALF Stockholm

    Novo Nordisk Foundation
    * Nordic Cancer Union
    * Swedish Diabetes Foundation
    * Strategic Research Area Epidemiology (SfoEpi) at Karolinska Institutet
    * Karolinska Institutet Foundations and Funds
    * Stiftelsen Frimurare Barnhuset
    * Alzheimerfonden
    * Dr Margaretha Nilsson Stiftelse för Medicinsk Forskning
    * Åke Wibergs Stiftelse
    * Magnus Bergvalls Stiftelse

    SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
    Svanström H, Mkoma GF, Hviid A, Pasternak B. SGLT2 inhibitors and mortality among patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction: a linked database study. BMJ 2024

     

    Ueda P, Söderling J, Wintzell V, Svanström H, Pazzagli L, Eliasson B, Melbye M, Hviid A, Pasternak B. GLP-1 receptor agonist use and suicide death. JAMA Intern Med 2024

     

    Pasternak B, Wintzell V, Hviid A, Eliasson B, Gudbjörnsdottir S, Jonasson C, Hveem K, Svanström H, Melbye M, Ueda P. Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist use and risk of thyroid cancer: Scandinavian cohort study. BMJ 2024

     

    Engström A, Wintzell V, Melbye M, Svanström H, Eliasson B, Gudbjörnsdottir S, Hveem K, Jonasson C, Hviid A, Ueda P, Pasternak B. Association of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists with serious liver events: a Scandinavian cohort study. Hepatology 2024

     

    Ueda P, Svanström H, Hviid A, Eliasson B, Svensson AM, Franzén S, Gudbjörnsdottir S, Hveem K, Jonasson C, Wintzell V, Melbye M, Pasternak B. Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors and risk of bladder and renal cancer: Scandinavian cohort study. Diabetes Care 2022

     

    Wintzell V, Svanström H, Pasternak B. Selection of comparator group in 
    observational drug safety studies: alternatives to the active comparator new
    user design. Epidemiology 2022


    Pasternak B, Wintzell V, Melbye M, Eliasson B, Svensson AM, Franzén S,  
    Gudbjörnsdottir S, Hveem K, Jonasson C, Svanström H, Ueda P. Use of
    sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors and risk of serious renal events:
    Scandinavian cohort study. BMJ 2020

     

    Pasternak B, Ueda P, Eliasson B, Svensson AM, Franzén S,  
    Gudbjörnsdottir S, Hveem K, Jonasson C, Wintzell V, Melbye M, Svanström H.
    Use of sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors and risk of major
    cardiovascular events and heart failure: Scandinavian register based cohort
    study. BMJ 2019

     

    Svanström H, Ueda P, Melbye M, Eliasson B, Svensson AM, Franzén S,  
    Gudbjörnsdottir S, Hveem K, Jonasson C, Pasternak B. Use of liraglutide 
    and risk of major cardiovascular events: a register-based cohort study in
    Denmark and Sweden. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol 2019

     

    Ueda P, Svanström H, Melbye M, Eliasson B, Svensson AM, Franzén S,  
    Gudbjörnsdottir S, Hveem K, Jonasson C,  Pasternak B. Sodium glucose 
    cotransporter 2 inhibitors and risk of serious adverse events: nationwide
    register based cohort study. BMJ 2018

     

    Pasternak B, Inghammar M, Svanström H. Fluoroquinolone use and risk of 
    aortic aneurysm and dissection: nationwide cohort study. BMJ 2018

     

    Scheller NM, Pasternak B, Mølgaard-Nielsen D, Svanström H, Hviid A. 
    Quadrivalent HPV Vaccination and the Risk of Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes. New
    England Journal of Medicine 2017

     

    Molgaard-Nielsen D, Svanstrom H, Melbye M, Hviid A,  Pasternak B
    Association Between Use of Oral Fluconazole During Pregnancy and Risk of
    Spontaneous Abortion and Stillbirth. JAMA 2016

     

    Scheller NM, Svanstrom H, Pasternak B, Arnheim-Dahlstrom L, Sundstrom K,  
    Fink K, et al. Quadrivalent HPV vaccination and risk of multiple sclerosis
    and other demyelinating diseases of the central nervous system. JAMA 2015

     

    Scheller NM, Pasternak B, Svanstrom H, Hviid A. Quadrivalent human 
    papillomavirus vaccine and the risk of venous thromboembolism. JAMA 2014

     

    Nyboe Andersen N,  Pasternak B, Basit S, Andersson M, Svanstrom H, Caspersen 
    S, et al. Association between tumor necrosis factor-α antagonists and risk
    of cancer in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. JAMA 2014

     

    Feenstra B, Pasternak B, Geller F, Carstensen L, Wang T, Huang F, et al. 

    Common variants associated with general and MMR vaccine-related febrile 
    seizures. Nature genetics 2014

     

    Molgaard-Nielsen D,  Pasternak B, Hviid A. Use of oral fluconazole during 
    pregnancy and the risk of birth defects. New England Journal of Medicine 
    2013

     

    Hviid A, Melbye M, Pasternak B. Use of selective serotonin reuptake 
    inhibitors during pregnancy and risk of autism. New England Journal of
    Medicine 2013

     

    Svanstrom H,  Pasternak B, Hviid A. Use of azithromycin and death from 
    cardiovascular causes. New England Journal of Medicine 2013

     

    Pasternak B, Svanstrom H, Melbye M, Hviid A. Association between oral 
    fluoroquinolone use and retinal detachment. JAMA 2013

     

    Pasternak B, Svanstrom H, Molgaard-nielsen D, Melbye M, Hviid A. 
    Metoclopramide in pregnancy and risk of major congenital malformations and
    fetal death. JAMA 2013

     

    Pasternak B, Svanstrom H, Hviid A. Ondansetron in pregnancy and risk of 
    adverse fetal outcomes. New England Journal of Medicine 2013

     

    Pasternak B, Svanstrom H, Molgaard-Nielsen D, et al. Risk of adverse fetal outcomes following administration of a
    pandemic influenza A(H1N1) vaccine during pregnancy. JAMA 2012

     

    Pasternak B, Svanstrom H, Molgaard-Nielsen D, et al. Vaccination against pandemic A/H1N1 2009 influenza in pregnancy
    and risk of fetal death: cohort study in Denmark. BMJ 2012

     

    Svanstrom H, Pasternak B, Hviid A. Association of treatment with losartan 
    vs candesartan and mortality among patients with heart failure. JAMA 2012

     

    Pasternak B, Hviid A. Use of acyclovir, valacyclovir, and famciclovir in 
    the first trimester of pregnancy and the risk of birth defects. JAMA 2010

     

    Pasternak B, Hviid A. Use of proton-pump inhibitors in early pregnancy and 
    the risk of birth defects. New England Journal of Medicine 2010

Articles

All other publications

Employments

  • Principal Researcher, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 2022-

Degrees and Education

  • Docent, Karolinska Institutet, 2017

News from KI

Events from KI