April 29, 2010

Avandia is an anti-diabetic drug used to treat type 2 diabetes.  Since the FDA approved Avandia for sale in the United States in 1998, numerous medical studies have linked Avandia to an increased rate of heart attack.  Based on those studies, in 2007, the FDA required that GlaxoSmithKline (“GSK”) display a black-box warning on Avandia’s package to inform users of the potential side effects.  According to a recent Senate Finance Committee report, GSK was accused of downplaying Avandia side effects.  The Senate report also disclosed that the FDA Safety Board had been discussing a possible Avandia recall since 2007.  The report accused GSK of knowingly failing to warn practitioners or patients of Avandia’s side effects.  The FDA plans to hold an advisory committee meeting this summer to review all of the data from clinical trials carried out by GSK to determine whether Avandia should remain on the market.  GSK is currently facing hundreds of lawsuits filed by patients claiming to have been injured as a result of their Avandia use.

Avandia is Temporarily Barred in Arabia

In response to the disturbing reports from the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, the Saudi Arabia Food and Drug Authority (SAFD) has decided to temporarily bar the use of Avandia for a six-month period while further studies are conducted.  The SAFD sees Avandia side effects as a serious safety issue and believes the risks far outweigh the benefits.  In the meantime, the SAFD met with GSK to inform the pharmaceutical company of its decision and to give GSK an opportunity to challenge the SAFD’s conclusions.  GSK has failed to respond to the SAFD.  Given GSK’s failure to respond, the director of SAFD believes Avandia should be removed from the market.

If you have experienced a heart attack or any other heart-related illness while on Avandia, you may be interested in speaking with a lawyer about Avandia side effects to see if you are entitled to compensation for medical costs, and pain and suffering.  Hundreds of Avandia lawsuits are currently being filed across the country.

Author

Susan Ardizzoni, Ph.D. holds a Doctorate in Biology with a major in Neuroscience (medical) and minors in Biochemistry, Physics, and Mathematics with experience in basic and clinical research.  Although the author is not an attorney, this article was sponsored by the law firm of Bernstein Liebhard LLP and constitutes Attorney Advertising.  To learn more about Avandia side effects or Avandia recall please visit www.ConsumerInjuryLawyers.com