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FDA Panel Votes to Keep Avandia on Shelves

Controversial diabetes drug still faces heart-attack link

By Sam Biddle,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 30, 2007 5:38 PM CDT
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(Newser) – An FDA panel said today that GlaxoSmithKline's diabetes drug Avandia should remain in drugstores, despite earlier evidence the pill ups heart failure risks. Glaxo has defended its drug, countering that the risks associated with the popular Avandia are the same as those of other diabetes drugs.

"None of these drugs are perfect," said a Glaxo senior VP. The FDA, which is not obliged to follow its panel's advice, has not come to any conclusion about whether the drug will be recalled. It has, however, proposed adding more prominent warning labels and even drawing up a patient registry.

Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach holds up a copy of the Physicians Desk Reference book while testifying on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, June 6, 2007, before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing on the diabetes drug Avandia. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach holds up a copy of the Physicians Desk Reference book while testifying on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, June 6, 2007, before the...   (Associated Press)
Moncef Slaoui,, chairman of Research and Development at GalaxoSmithKline testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, in this Wednesday, June 6, 2007 file photo, before the House Oversight and Government Reform committee hearing on the diabetes drug Avandia. In the month after a surprising analysis revealed possible heart risks from the...
Moncef Slaoui,, chairman of Research and Development at GalaxoSmithKline testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, in this Wednesday, June 6, 2007 file photo, before the House Oversight and Government...   (Associated Press)
From left, Dr. Bruce Psaty, a researcher at the University of Washington, Dr. John Buse, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill professor, and Dr. Steve Nissen, Chairman of the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic, are sworn in on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, June 6, 2007,...
From left, Dr. Bruce Psaty, a researcher at the University of Washington, Dr. John Buse, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill professor, and Dr. Steve Nissen, Chairman of the Department of Cardiovascular...   (Associated Press)
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US • Health • Money

 
FDA • health • drugs • diabetes • GlaxoSmithKline • Avandia • safety • heart failure

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