Study Links Diabetes Drug Avandia To Heart Attacks

Posted By Healthy on May 23, 2007

A study just released indicates that the diabetes drug Rosiglitazone, sold under the name Avandia by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) may dramatically increase the risk of heart attacks. This prompted a safety alert by the US government.

Avandia was linked to a “significant risk” of heart attacks and death from cardiovascular causes, said a study published on the New England Journal of Medicine’s website. It is widely used to treat type-2 or adult-onset diabetes, which has surged in the US owing to an epidemic of obesity.

While the study is not conclusive, the findings - based on an analysis of dozens of clinical trials - are worrisome because of the high incidence of cardiovascular events in patients with diabetes.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said in a statment it was “aware of a potential sfety issue related to Avandia” and advised patients taking the drug to speak to their doctors in light of the new study.

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