FDA Hearing on Dangers of Avandia Begins
A Food and Drug Administration (FDA) panel began a hearing on July 13 regarding whether the medication Avandia is safe enough to remain on the market, a news article on KSDK.com stated. Avandia is used to treat Type II diabetes. In several studies, it has appeared that the drug also increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, or death from other cardiovascular complications.
In February, a Senate committee concluded that Avandia’s maker, GlaxoSmithKline, knew about the possible risks Avandia posed to patients, yet did not study those risks further. Nor does it appear that GlaxoSmithKline reported the risks it knew about to the FDA.
Since 2007, GlaxoSmithKline has performed six clinical trials and has found that Avandia does not increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, or death. A study performed by Dr. Steven Nissen at the Cleveland Clinic, however, found a 44 percent increase in deaths, strokes, and/or heart attacks among patients that took Avandia. The Cleveland Clinic is well-known nationwide for specializing in the treatment of cardiovascular conditions, and Dr. Nissen’s study was one of the first to raise the alarm about the effects of Avandia on the human heart.
In 2007, an FDA panel voted 22 to 1 to keep Avandia on the market, but to put stronger warnings about the drug’s possible side effects, including the increased risk of heart attack or stroke, on the label.
If you have suffered a heart attack, stroke, or other cardiovascular condition while taking Avandia, you may want to consult an experienced Missouri pharmaceutical liability attorney. The experienced legal team at Page Law will review the details of your case and will protect your legal rights as they fight for the compensation you deserve. Contact Page Law today at 314-322-8515 for a free and comprehensive evaluation of your Missouri defective drugs case.