Avandia News
Study uncovers potential Avandia liver failure risk
An analysis of adverse events reported to the Food and Drug Administration has uncovered 11 deaths due to liver toxicity among patients taking the diabetes drug Avandia. The consumers group Public Citizen, which conducted the analysis, estimates that because few side effects cases are reported to the FDA, the actual number of patients who developed liver failure after using Avandia could be much higher. More »
FDA panel calls for increased testing of diabetes drugs
A Food and Drug Administration advisory panel says that the agency should require stricter testing of drugs used to treat type 2 diabetes in order to ensure that they do not increase the risk of heart problems. In a 14-2 vote, the panel concluded that these drugs need to undergo long-term cardiovascular trials, even in cases when initial studies show no increased risk of heart problems.
Researchers halt diabetes drug trial over deaths
Federal health investigators have halted part of a large-scale clinical trial on type 2 diabetes treatments after learning that patients who were aggressively treated to lower blood sugar levels suffered an unexpectedly high number of deaths. Out of more than 10,000 patients involved in the trial, 257 deaths were reported among the aggressive treatment group, 21% more than the group that received the regular treatment.
Europe issues new Avandia warnings over heart risks
A leading European health agency has recommended that patients with signs of heart problems should not be given the diabetes drug Avandia because of the heart risks associated with the drug. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) said that patients with heart disease or leg pains—both of which can be signs of heart problems—should not be prescribed the drug because of the risk of Avandia side effects.
Avandia may increase risk of osteoporosis
A new study has found that the diabetes drug Avandia may cause an increase in bone thinning. Scientists believe that the new findings may help to explain why women taking Avandia have a higher risk of fractures than other patients.