Glaxo Wins Minor Victory

An FDA advisory panel has ruled that the diabetes drug Avandia should stay on the market despite its health risks. The drug, made by GlaxoSmithKline has been the subject of a lot of controversy over the last few years due to studies performed that have found a link between it and heart attacks.

This past week, the panel poured over more than 7,000 pages of study data pertaining to the drug, trying to determine if its risks outweighed its benefits. They ended up recommending that the drug remain on the market but that tougher rules be imposed on it to insure that it only is taken by those who need it.

Three years ago another FDA panel met to discuss Avandia and came to the conclusion that the drug could stay on the market but with extra health warnings. Now the drug comes with a warning of heart failure on its label and if the FDA side with their advisory panel it will come with an additional warning of heart health risks.

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