Avandia®, Still on a Hot Seat: An Update

Filed in archive News , Research , Treatment on July 20, 2007

On top of Avandia®'s association with increased risk of heart attack, there are additional reasons that came up why this GlaxoSmithKline diabetes drug is still on the hot seat.

As recently reported by Center for the Advancement of Health:

• little evidence supports using Avandia® (rosiglitazone) to improve the quality or length of life among adults with diabetes


• Avandia® might worsen complications of the disease such as weight gain, swelling, bone fractures and heart disease


• 
  
  Now, GlaxoSmithKline is preparing for a face-to-face meeting with the FDA on the issue of Avandia®.
  
  As reported by CNN Money:
  
  

The Food and Drug Administration has asked Glaxo (down $0.29 to $52.68, Charts) to participate in a July 30 fact-gathering meeting about Avandia, a drug that controls blood-sugar levels in diabetics. At the meeting, an FDA advisory committee intends to hammer out the issue of heightened heart attack risk that has been associated with the British drugmaker's diabetes blockbuster.

Beyond fact-gathering, the purpose of the July 30 meeting is unclear. But the stakes for Glaxo are high. Avandia is the company's second-biggest seller, with $3 billion in 2006 sales. Analysts say that sales have slipped since allegations of heightened heart attack risk emerged in May.

Well, let's wait and see what would come out from all of these. But since the association to heart attack study first came out, I guess Avandia® already said goodbye to too many diabetes patients and endocrinologists.