Diabetes groups warn against Avandia

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Diabetes groups warn against Avandia

American and European diabetes associations are jumping on the anti-Avandia

bandwagon. In their new consensus statement on treatment protocols, the American

Diabetes Association and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes are

urging docs to use caution when prescribing drugs for type 2 diabetes. The

statement cites " additional hazards " from using the thiazolidedione class of

meds, which includes Actos and Avandia, and cites the risk of heart attack from

" rosiglitazone (Avandia) in particular. "

The associations are just the latest in a queue of groups casting a jaded eye

on GlaxoSmithKline's Avandia. A few weeks ago, Health Canada set out a series of

restrictions on Avandia use. Last month, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

dropped the drug from its formulary; before that, the VA had accounted for 8

percent of Avandia's U.S. sales. Overall, sales of the drug have dropped 48

percent since news of its link to heart problems began to emerge.

 

And then there's Glaxo's black eye. A Congressional committee last week

concluded that company executives--including CEO Jean-Pierre Garnier and former

research helmsman Tachi Yamada--tried to intimidate a diabetes expert into

keeping quiet about Avandia's safety problems.

 

- check out this report for more

 

Related Articles:

 

New Avandia warning 'a muddle'. Report

Avandia warning, comeback imminent? Report

Avandia cleared FDA by one vote. Report

Avandia, Actos don't boost death risk. Report

FDA adds to drumbeat of bad news for Avandia. Report

Expert committee says Avandia should stay. Report

 

 

 

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