Millions of diabetics take GlaxoSmithKline's drug Avandia on a daily basis.
However, this diabetes pill could be given the thumbs down if a special FDA hearing decides that it is a potentially fatal.
In the next few days the FDA will determine whether or not Avandia does pose a greateer risk of heart attacks . The FDA's committee may recommend a more strict warning label, tighter restrictions on prescriptions or it could call for this drug to be withdrawn from the American market.
Glaxo has even been accused of attempting to silence scientists who have claimed that Avandia is potentially lethal and of placing diabetics lives at risk since a 2007 study by a cardiologist at Cleveland Clinic suggested that Avandia could raise the rate of heart attacks by 43%.
The UK's largest drugs company has strongly defended its drug, providing studies which suggest that Avandia is safe.
However, the drug's sales have nearly halved, from £1.4bn in 2006 to £771m in 2009.
Glaxo on Tenterhooks as FDA Tests Diabetes Drug Avandia
Wed, 14 Jul 2010
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