Personal Injury Law

New Pressure on FDA Regarding Avandia

By Jamie Sheller

Avandia, a diabetes drug made by GlaxoSmithKline, used to be a top-seller. However, its sales have sharply declined since May 2007 when a study showed a 43 percent increased risk of heart attack among people using Avandia. The drug now has a "black box" warning about the heart attack risk. More recently, a joint medical panel of the American Diabetes Association and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes, "unanimously advised against using" Avandia. Further, the FDA was asked by a consumer group to ban Avandia. According to the group, Public Citizen, there is a concern about liver failure caused by Avandia, with 12 liver-related deaths linked to the drug. GlaxoSmithKline stands behind the safety of Avandia when used appropriately. The FDA plans to review the Public Citizen petition and decide whether to remove Avandia from the market or to simply require stronger warnings. Avandia was approved by the FDA in 1999, and is used to treat diabetes by making the body more sensitive to insulin.

If you or someone you know has been injured by Avandia, contact Sheller P.C. to discuss whether you have a potential claim. The lawyers at Sheller have years of experience successfully representing people injured by prescription medication.

Full post as published by Philadelphia Personal Injury Lawyer on November 05, 2008 (boomark / email).