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Would you like to become diabetes-free but have a heart ailment instead? Unless you have suicidal tendencies, or would like to “get the better” out of your insurance policy, I think with a sane mind you would not. Diabetes treatment medications Avandia (rosiglitazone) and Actos (pioglitazone) were found to have the same risks of heart attack, heart complications, and death. The study found the risks for both diabetes drugs to be approximately 4%. The new study was published in the latest issue of Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, an American Heart Association journal. Over 36,000 diabetes patients using one of the drugs took part in the study, and researchers found that 602 Avandia patients suffered from a heart attack, heart failure, or died, and 599 patients taking Actos suffered the same outcomes; 217 patients reportedly died from each drug group.

"This study provides patients and their doctors with another source of information about rosiglitazone and pioglitazone as they determine the best therapy for diabetes patients," said Debra Wertz of HealthCore, Wellpoint's research arm.

Glaxo’s once blockbuster diabetes drug Avandia, has been under constant fire for more than three years because of links to heart problems. Sen. Chuck Grassley, the Iowa Republican who has become the bane of drugmakers, and the Senate Finance Committee (of which Grassley is ranking member) have been investigating Glaxo and Avandia for over two years, and in February released dozens of internal Glaxo documents relating to those potential cardiovascular risks. The committee sent copies to the FDA.

Glaxo has always said that it’s provided all safety data to the FDA in a timely fashion and Avandia is safe when used appropriately. But FDA reviewer Robert Misbin, an expert on diabetes drugs, isn’t so sure. Misbin became very concerned about Avandia when, in late 2006, he saw data provided to the agency by Glaxo suggesting a 31% increase in heart attack risk associated with use of the drug. So the FDA shouldn’t have waited so long to alert doctors and patients about the potential risks of the drug.