GlaxoSmithKline Hid Relevant Data on Avandia's Risk for Cardiovascular Problems
As a follow-up to our previous blog on the current controversy surrounding the popular diabetes drug Avandia, it was recently reported that Avandia’s manufacturer GlaxoSmithCline hid a 1999 study that indicated the drug’s danger.
In the fall of 1999, the manufacturer secretly began a study to test if Avandia was better and safer in terms of heart problem risks than the competing drug Actos. The study showed that Avandia was not better than Actos, and was in fact riskier for the heart. The company did not share these results, but instead tried to cover them up, likely due to fear of lost profits. In most cases, the law requires posting the results in a public forum or submitting them to federal drug regulators. In fact, GlaxoSmithKline has not only hid valuable data regarding Avandia’s safety, it has also manipulated data to make the drug appear less risky.
Avandia went on to become one of the most popular drugs in the world, earning GlaxoSmithKline hundreds of millions in profits. It was not until May 2007 when a cardiologist at the Cleveland Clinic disclosed a study that showed an increase risk of heart attacks associated with Avandia. Currently, the FDA is debating whether or not to allow a further clinical trial to test the safety risks of the drug proceed.
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