VIA: Good Morning America
The end could be drawing near for GlaxoSmithKline’s multi-billion dollar diabetes drug Avandia, if two U.S. Food and Drug Administration reviewers are successful in their bid to have the drug pulled from the market because of its link to heart problems. The recommendations were released as part of a report from the Senate Finance Committee on the controversial drug.
While Avandia, known in medical circles as rosiglitazone, works as well as its competitor pioglitazone (Actos), the report concluded, use of the drug is responsible for a “substantial excess number” of heart attacks and heart failure cases that would not have occurred if patients were taking Actos instead.
Dr. Richard Besser discusses the FDA’s review of the diabetes drug below. Read more on GMA’s website.
