Avandia Research - Doctor is Threatened
Posted by
Susy OwenJune 06, 2007 12:49 PMTags:
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Avandia 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 just for the year 2006.
After conducting 42 clinical trials, The New England Journal of Medicine published doctor Steven Nissen's startling report. Doctor Nissen's report stated that with respect to the use of Avandia, there is a 43percent increase in the risk of heart attacks. The report further stated that 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 Avandia 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.