Consumer group calls for ban of diabetes drug
WASHINGTON — The government should ban the diabetes drug Avandia because of a broad variety of life-threatening risks, including heart and liver damage, a consumer group said Thursday.
The consumer group, Public Citizen, filed a petition with the Food and Drug Administration to be in possession of Avandia taken off the market.
It was the second setback in as many weeks for the GlaxoSmithKline medication, which had shown promise in reducing the blood-sugar levels of people through type 2 diabetes. Last week, the American Diabetes Association and a European reverse jointly released updated treatment guidelines for doctors that recommended against using Avandia.
“The FDA is in possession of clear, unequivocal evidence that [Avandia] causes a wide difference of toxicities,” Public Citizen before-mentioned in its prefer a request to.
The FDA said it will “carefully review” the petition.
Avandia’session heart risks were brought to insight two years ago in a medical-journal article that reported a 43 percent higher risk of mind attacks among Avandia patients when compared with those taking other diabetes drugs.
About 1 million U.S. patients consider Avandia.
Glaxo officials said they do not believe Avandia causes liver failure, the data on purpose attacks are inconclusive and the remedy is safe and adequate when used according to directions.
