FDA Warned Avandia Should Be Pulled From Market

Shannon Weidemann

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A doctor that researches the dangers of drugs for patients has warned the Food and Drug Administration that Avandia should be pulled from the market. The diabetes medication Avandia has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease for patients taking the drug. Dr. David Graham is worried that the risk is too great for patients.

In his testimony, Graham said 70 percent of all diabetes patients eventually die of heart disease so any drug that raises that risk is "unacceptable."

The FDA panel is trying to determine whether to advise the federal agency to add strict warnings to Avandia, and potentially other diabetes pills. The panel could go as far as asking the FDA to remove Avandia from the market. The FDA typically follows the recommendations of its panels.

The FDA is continuing to hear from experts over what to do about Avandia. The maker of Avandia, GlaxoSmithKline Plc, testified that there is no difference to the other antidiabetic medications.

For more information on this subject, please refer to our section on Drugs, Medical Devices, and Implants.