Popular Diabetes Drug Dangerous?

The Food and Drug Administration has released a report on the popular diabetes drug Avandia showing it to be more dangerous than the manufacturer had claimed. According to the FDA analysis, the research done on the medicine by its manufacturer, GlaxoSmithKline, was “sloppy” and the study was “inappropriate and biased.” In 2007 a study was published stating that Avandia actually raised the risk of heart attacks in users. GlaxoSmithKline countered by releasing data from another study, showing no increased risk of heart problems. But when the FDA did an intensive review of patient records, many were found to have missing data, or no follow-up on high-risk patients. Meanwhile, the American Diabetes Association has recommended that doctors use medications other than Avandia. "We took the position that there's just no rationale for using a drug that might be dangerous,” said an ADA committee chair. “Especially when other options are available."