The New York Times published an article recently about the positive reviews that GlaxoSmithKline’s diabetes drug, Avandia, has received in articles written by experts. An analysis of hundreds of articles dating from 2007 showed that more often than not, experts who were paid by GlaxoSmithKline, had positive reviews about the drug.
According to a March 18, 2010 article published in the British Medical Journal, researchers reviewed over 200 articles written by 180 authors about the relationship between Avandia and heart attacks. The research showed that of the favorable opinions, 87 percent of authors had some type of conflict of interest with GlaxoSmithKline. Only 20 percent of those with unfavorable opinions of Avandia had financial ties to Glaxo.
In 2007, the New England Journal of Medicine published studies that showed the use of Avandia was associated with an increased risk of having a heart attack. Confidential FDA reports, described by the New York Times in February, detailed their recommendation that Avandia should be removed from the market.
Sheller, P.C. is a national law firm handling defective drug cases. If you or someone you know has had a heart attack or stroke as a result of taking Avandia, please contact Sheller, P.C.
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