The consumer group Public Citizen says that Avandia, GlaxoSmithKline's popular medication for Type 2 diabetes, should be banned as more and more cases of liver toxicity are being linked to the drug's use.

Avandia: Round 2?

Public Citizen's call for Avandia's ban may be round two in the drug manufacturer's difficulty to keep it on pharmacy shelves. It's been a year and a half one since a study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine which reported a 43% increase in heart risks for patients taking Avandia. A Canadian study also linked Avandia to much greater risks of heart attacks, heart failure and death and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which also accused GlaxoSmithKline (Glaxo) of withholding clinical trial information in 2007, reported that Avandia may also be linked to osteoporosis.

After the damaging studies were published, many pharmacies and doctors refused to continue using the drug. The FDA asked Glaxo to conduct further clinical studies on the drug's risks, but those results will not be known for several years. In the meantime, the FDA has required Glaxo to include a black box warning on the drug - the most serious warning available. Even so, the manufacturer maintains that the drug's risks are acceptable.

Public Citizen says scientific consensus against Avandia is overwhelming

Public Citizen says that in addition to the risks described above, Avandia is also being linked to too many cases of liver toxicity. According to Dr. Sidney Wolfe, director of Public Citizen's Health Research Group, "The scientific consensus against Avandia is overwhelming. The timing of these findings should give the FDA the momentum it needs to act swiftly to prevent further needless deaths and health damage by banning this drug." The non-profit consumer advocate group points to the 14 cases of liver failure and 12 deaths reported to the FDA.

In fact, it maintains that the drug was approved in 1999 to replace an allegedly dangerous drug known as Rezulin and that the Administration has only said that Avandia is "less dangerous" than Rezulin which was removed from the market in 2000. To read Public Citizen's press release, click here.

Hundreds of lawsuits pending

Glaxo has been sued by hundreds of Type 2 diabetes patients who have suffered side effects such as heart attacks, congestive heart failure, loss of vision, liver failure, bone fractures and death. If you've been injured due to Avandia use, contact an experienced attorney whose practice focuses in products liability law to discuss your situation. Consultations are free, without obligation and are strictly confidential. To contact a lawyer near you, please click here. We may be able to help.