GSK and Avandia: A History of Not Caring
It is a product history heard over and over in the world of Big Pharma. A large drug company develops a new drug, tests it, gets FDA approval and then promotes and sells it — often knowing in advance that the drug can be dangerous to the very people it is supposed to help.
That is the history of Avandia (rosiglitazone), a product GlaxoSmithKline markets for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. GSK has known of problems with Avandia since before they put it on the market in 1999. More than 60 million prescriptions for Avandia have been written since 1999.
Avandia history is all about profits for GSK.
In May 2007, the New England Journal of Medicine reported on an analysis of more than 40 clinical trials studying Avandia and its relation to heart attack and disease. The study suggested that diabetic Avandia patients have a 43 percent higher rate of heart attack and a 64 percent increase in death from all cardiac events compared to diabetics not using Avandia.
What was the response from GlaxoSmithKline? GSK denounced the researchers' conclusions. But internally, their own scientists had concerns.
A Wall Street Journal article (January 14, 2009) reports that the company's senior consultant wrote: "The numbers are the numbers, the analysis is very similar to our own."
By the way, GSK had plenty of time to respond to the New England Journal of Medicine report. Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) reported that one of the peer-review scientists faxed the report to GSK two weeks before publication, violating the integrity of the peer review process. Profits, however, won out against integrity.
After reviewing the history of Avandia, our trial attorneys have taken action to bring together the evidence and resources for an Avandia lawsuit.
Our lawyers welcome the experiences of Avandia victims and their families. We are fighting for compensation for Avandia victims. Contact us.
