Senate Finance Report On Avandia Criticizes Drug Maker
The United States Senate Finance Committee has released a report that sharply criticizes the drug-maker, GlaxoSmithKline, and its marketing of the drug Avandia. The diabetes drug Avandia has been linked with thousands of heart attacks, and, according to federal officials the drug-maker knew full well of the risks for years but worked to keep them from the public.
The 334-page report by the Senate Finance Committee also criticized the Food and Drug Administration, saying that the federal agency that regulates food, tobacco and medications overlooked or overrode safety concerns found by its staff.
"Americans have a right to know there are serious health risks associated with Avandia and GlaxoSmithKline had a responsibility to tell them," said U.S. Senator Max Baucus, a Democrat and committee chairman. "Patients trust drug companies with their health and
GlaxoSmithKline said in a prepared statement that it has extensively studied Avandia in more than 52,000 patients and none of its reports shows a statistically significant association between Avandia and heart attacks. The company supported its position by the approval is has received from the the FDA and "has been approved by an independent review board and appropriate safety boards that are responsible for assessing the safety of conducting the trial."
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