Avandia: Just How Low Can Greedy Drug Giants Stoop?

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When you know something is not right and you try to speak out but your message is ignored, it can be disheartening. But quitting the good fight is not something we do here at HSI.

For years, we have been warning against the dangerous side effects linked to the type 2 diabetes drug Avandia... dubbed the ‘Killer Drug’ by some. Now, finally the mainstream appears to be catching on.

Avandia: Hit the road Jack!

In fact, we told our members about the link between Avandia and the risk of congestive heart failure as far back as 2003.

In 2007 the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) made headlines with a study that illustrates just how expansive this danger really is and how an increased risk of suffering a heart attack is only one part of Avandia’s risk profile.

Astonishingly, the drug stayed on the market despite the findings of a report in 2007 - published by the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) - that demonstrated it was killing around 19 per cent of patients, and was causing non-fatal heart problems in a further 8 per cent.

It’s clear that the FDA was aware of the side-effects and health dangers surrounding Avandia well before 2007. Back in 2005 they cautioned that “there have been reports of inflammation of the liver (hepatitis) and elevated liver enzymes”. Worse still, according to the FDA, the class of drugs that Avandia belongs to had been linked with “rare but serious liver injury, including liver failure leading to transplant or death.” And: “Avandia’s liver safety profile is not fully determined yet.”

These are only a few of the health risks associated with this drug. HSI has reported on many more and there is no doubt that this drug has caused much more harm than good.

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Avandia: Back to the future

On 23 February 2010, US Senators Max Baucus and Charles Grassley released a 334 page report that reveals how GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) – the manufacturers of Avandia - intimidated doctors, saying: “GSK executives attempted to intimidate independent physicians, focused on strategies to minimize or misrepresent findings that Avandia may increase cardiovascular risk and sought ways to downplay findings that a competing drug might reduce cardiovascular risk.”

A separate letter sent to FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg by Senators Baucus and Grassley added, “... the totality of evidence suggests that GSK was aware of the possible cardiac risks associated with Avandia years before such evidence became public.”

Senators Baucus and Grassley accused the FDA of not having banned the drug because it is too 'cosy' with drugs firms like GSK.

Well if that doesn’t say it all!

The report also reveals some rather startling facts about the dangers of Avandia, including evidence from the FDA’s own scientists who concluded that Avandia was associated with 83,000 heart attacks.

83,000 heart attacks! Imagine if 19 per cent of them were fatal... you do the maths! It seems atrocious that this drug was allowed to stay on the market for almost a decade and none of the authorities responsible for protecting patients’ health did anything to stop it from being prescribed.

In Britain alone, more than 100,000 diabetes patients are being prescribed Avandia. Yet in light of this damning report and the clear health dangers posed by this drug, a spokesman for the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) – the UK equivalent of the FDA - said: 'We look at any new data that comes to light about a medicine and can update the product information if necessary.' As a final reassurance the MHRA said it will be 'continuously monitoring' the safety of Avandia.

That’s NOT good enough. Almost a decade’s worth of studies and proof of cover-ups by the manufacturers and regulators alike is enough testimony for us that Avandia should be withdrawn.

If you are a type 2 diabetes sufferer and you have been prescribed Avandia talk to your doctor or health care provider about switching to a safer alternative.

Avandia: Related Reading:

Deaths linked to diabetes drug Avandia

Avandia: The Diabetes Drug That Could Be Doing More Harm Than Good

More Controversy Surrounding The Diabetes Drug Avandia

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Sources:

‘Diabetes sufferers warned that widely-used drug Avandia can cause heart disease and death’ by Daniel Martin, published online 22.02.10, dailymail.co.uk

‘GlaxoSmithKline deliberately hid evidence of Avandia harm, says Senate report’ by Mike Adams, published online 23.02.10, doomdaily.com