Avandia - Doctor Reports Drug Company Threats
Posted by
Greg OwenJune 06, 2007 2:34 PMAvandia is a diabetes medicine and is GlaxoSmithKline's second-bestselling drug. We know that worldwide more than 6 million people have taken Avandia or Avandamet, since 1999. Additionally, there was $2.2 billion in U.S. Avandia sales reported by Glaxo, and that is for the year 2006 alone.
After 42 clinical trials were conducted, The New England Journal of Medicine published doctor Steven Nissen's startling report on Avandia. Doctor Nissen's report states that there is a 43 percent increase in the risk of heart attacks, and there is a 64 percent increase in the risk of death due to cardiovascular issues as a result of the ingesting the drug.
More recently, the controversy surrounding the drug company and has grown. It has been reported that a medical expert, John Buse, M.D., was threatened with a lawsuit by GlaxoSmithKline's executives when he initially raised doubts about the drug as far back as 1999.
As a result of the recent findings and disclosures, Democratic lawmakers made their feelings regarding the conduct of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration known. Democratic Representative Henry Waxman stated " Despite additional warnings from outside experts, despite the millions of patients who rely on Avandia to control their blood sugar, and despite the potential risks involved, FDA never required the manufacturer to conduct a thorough post-market study of its heart risks."
Not surprisingly, GlaxoSmithKline continues to tout the safety of their product despite these finding and disclosures.