Avandia news stories on Newser

FDA Restricts Diabetes Drug Over Heart Risk

Kevin Spak — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 12:34:00 CDT

The FDA today put severe restrictions on Avandia, GlaxoSmithKline’s embattled diabetes drug, but stopped short of banning it outright. The once-popular drug will now only be available only as a last resort to type 2 diabetes patients who can’t control their glucose levels with any other medication, the AFP reports....

FDA Panel: Keep Avandia on Market

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 15:22:24 CDT

A majority of federal health experts has voted to keep the controversial diabetes pill Avandia on the market despite evidence that it increases the risk of heart attack. A panel of Food and Drug Administration advisers voted 20-12 against withdrawing GlaxoSmithKline's once-blockbuster drug. The agency is not required to follow...

Avandia Woes Mount Ahead of FDA Hearing

Nick McMaster — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 17:55:00 CDT

As the FDA prepares to consider whether to ban Avandia, agency scientists have discovered another problem with the diabetes drug: flaws that disqualify a clinical study sponsored by its maker. The trial, organized by GlaxoSmithKline, sought to evaluate the relative heart risks of Avandia and two other diabetes drugs, but...

Diabetes Drug Linked to Heart Woes Again; FDA Weighs Ban

Nick McMaster — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 15:55:00 CDT

The mountain of evidence against diabetes drug Avandia grew a bit bigger today, with two major studies linking the medication to heart disease and stroke, the LA Times reports. An FDA panel will meet next month to discuss recalling the drug, which has been on the agency's radar at least...

Feds Further Link Avandia to Heart Risk

Polly Davis Doig — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 07:09:12 CST

Some 800 people every month suffer heart attacks or heart failure because of the diabetes medication Avandia, according to government reports obtained by the New York Times . Under fire since 2007, the GlaxoSmithKline drug was linked to 304 deaths in the final quarter of last year and hundreds of thousands...

Drug Companies Hide Data From Docs

Katherine Thompson — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 10:22:30 CST

Pharmaceutical companies aren't as upfront with doctors as they are with the government about their new products, a study finds. Though drug companies must provide the FDA with all of the data from clinical trials, related papers published in medical journals were found to omit info from 20% of the...

8 Meds Docs Won't Take

Harry Kimball — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 19:55:17 CDT

Some drugs have such serious drawbacks that even doctors won’t take them, Men’s Health reports. The big eight: Advair: Can actually increase the severity of asthma attacks Avandia: Diabetes drug carries risk of heart attack

Serious Side Effects Linked to Avandia, Fosamax

Peter Fearon — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 02:57:23 CDT

Two new studies have linked the popular prescription drugs Fosamax and Avandia to serious side effects, Reuters reports. Fosamax, prescribed for osteoporosis, has been tied to a type of abnormal heartbeat that can cause dizziness and fatigue. Another study links Avandia, used to treat diabetes, to a double or even...

Diabetes Drug Given Strictest Warning Label

Jonas Oransky — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 15:20:08 CST

The FDA has applied its harshest warning to the diabetes drug Avandia, declaring the product potentially increases risk of heart attacks. Now marked with a “black box” warning, GlaxoSmithKline’s drug will stay on the market pending a continuing “safety assessment,” the Wall Street Journal reports; FDA officials say the agency...