Chicago Accident and Injury Lawyer Blog

A recent Senate Finance Committee report revealed that the diabetes drug, Avandia, is linked with tens of thousands of heart attacks across the U.S. as reported by CNN. According to the report, the manufacturer of the drug, GlaxoSmithKline, knew of the risks associated with the drug for years but worked to keep them from the public. The Senate report was developed over the past two years by investigators who reviewed hundreds of thousands of documents provided by GlaxoSmithKline, the FDA and several research institutes, in addition to conducting numerous interviews. The investigation stems from concerns that Avandia and other high-profile drugs put "public safety at risk because the FDA has been too cozy with drug makers and has been regularly outmaneuvered by companies that have a financial interest in downplaying or under-exploring potential safety risks," the report states. According to the Senate report: • FDA scientists estimated in July 2007 that Avandia was associated with approximately 83,000 heart attacks since it was put on the market. • GlaxoSmithKline undertook attempts to undermine information critical of Avandia, including the attempted intimidation of independent physicians by GSK executives and the development of strategies to minimize or misrepresent findings that Avandia may increase cardiovascular risk. The Senate report does not address the issue of whether Avandia should be removed from the market.