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Consumers Union urging drug-safety reforms on Congress
May 23rd, 2007
In the view of Consumers Union, news that the popular diabetes drug Avandia—which has been on the market since 1999—may significantly raise patients’ risk of heart attack just emphasizes the need for Congress to pass strong drug-safety laws.
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Diabetes drug Avandia seen as potential death risk
May 23rd, 2007
In 2006, the Food and Drug Administration warned that patients taking the diabetes drug Avandia were at an elevated risk of heart attacks. This came after Avandia’s maker, GlaxoSmithKline, posted a study on a remote company website.
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Avandia may become a repeat of Vioxx debacle
May 23rd, 2007
Research conducted on the diabetes drug Avandia by Dr. Steven Nissen and recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine has gotten a lot of attention. Avandia, made and sold by GlaxoSmithKline, is drawing parallels with Vioxx, the arthritis…more »
FDA safety alert issued for Avandia
May 22nd, 2007
A safety alert has been issued by the Food and Drug Administration regarding the diabetes drug Avandia, which is made by GlaxoSmithKline. The agency had approved it in 1999 to treat type 2 diabetes, which afflicts 18–20 million Americans.
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Public Citizen insists FDA knew of Avandia side effects risk
May 22nd, 2007
The consumer watchdog group Public Citizen is claiming that five years ago, the Food and Drug Administration knew that the diabetes drug Avandia carried a risk of congestive heart failure. The group cites a 2002 internal memo in which agency…more »
Avandia risks shown in medical journal article
May 22nd, 2007
After publication of an article in the New England Journal of Medicine and a subsequent alert by the Food and Drug Administration, patients and doctors are on alert about the diabetes drug Avandia and its link to heart problems.
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FDA may have known about Avandia and heart problems in ’02
May 22nd, 2007
The watchdog group Public Citizen is saying that as early as 2002, the Food and Drug Administration realized that people taking Avandia, GlaxoSmithKline’s popular diabetes drug, were at a serious risk of heart attack. FDA staff scientists then were saying…more »
NEJM editorial supports Dr. Nissen’s Avandia conclusions
May 21st, 2007
The New England Journal of Medicine recently featured an article, written by Dr. Steven Nissen, about the diabetes drug Avandia. Its conclusions, about side effects such as heart problems and heart attacks, were worrisome enough to merit an accompanying editorial.…more »
Dr. Nissen’s study shows similarities of Vioxx and Avandia
May 21st, 2007
The heart risks of Merck’s painkiller Vioxx led to a crisis for the drugmaker four years ago. The drug was withdrawn, the company’s CEO later resigned, lawsuits proliferated, and the Food and Drug Administration was subjected to much criticism for…more »
Avandia’s label gets tougher warning
April 29th, 2002
The diabetes drug Avandia has been linked with weight gain and fluid retention, both of which can lead to or aggravate congestive heart failure, according to the Food and Drug Administration. GlaxoSmithKline makes and sells Avandia for the treatment of…more »