FDA review confirms Avandia heart attack risk
Earlier this week a study was released which concluded that the Avandia heart attack risk is 43% greater when compared to people taking no drug or other diabetes medications. It has now been confirmed that the FDA reached a similar conclusion from the data several months ago, but failed to warn consumers.
>>PRIOR POST (5/21/2007): Avandia side effects study
It has been suggested that as many as 60,000 to 100,000 heart attacks could have been caused by Avandia side effects, with as many as 20 new cardiovascular events happening every day. This week many have beeen questioning why the manufacturer for failed to warn the public about this heart attack risk, and now it appears that the FDA may have also failed to protect consumers.
On Thursday, Senator Charles Grassley publicly criticized the FDA for not warning the public after receiving this data from the manufacturer in 2005. Despite recommendations from some within the agency to place a black box warning about the Avandia heart attack risk, the FDA decided to await the results of an on-going study before taking any action. It could be another two years before that study is complete, and thousands of Avandia deaths could occur in the mean time.
Avandia is a popular medication used by over 6 million people worldwide to treat type-2 diabetes. It is manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline, PLC, generating sales in the United States of over $2.2 billion last year. The manufacturer publicly disputes the conclusions of the study which will be published in next months issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. However, their own analysis showed a 31% greater risk of heart attack on Avandia. This situation appears to be another case where corporation profits were placed before the health of the consumer.
AVANDIA LAWSUITS
The Avandia lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. are reviewing potential lawsuits for users of the diabetes drug who suffered a heart attack, stroke or death. Cases are being reviewed nationwide. To determine if compensation may be available, request a free claim evaluation.
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