Avandia Lawsuit Filed
Posted by
Jennifer MooreJuly 03, 2007 11:02 PMA wrongful death lawsuit was recently filed against GlaxoSmithKline, the maker of Avandia, alleging that it withheld information from the public on the negative side effects of the drug. Avandia is a drug prescribed for Type II diabetes. A study published in the June 2007 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine links taking Avandia to a significant increase in the risk of heart attack.
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of the estate of an individual who died of a heart attack and alleges that the fact he took Avandia for over two years increased his risk of heart attack.
The lawsuit accuses the company of withholding from physicians, patients and the public information it had on adverse side effects."At least by September 2005, Glaxo was in possession of evidence that could reasonably be expected to diminish the sales of its second largest selling drug," the lawsuit adds. The information was not made public.
"During the following year of concealment, Glaxo pressed its sales of Avandia to a distribution of approximately 13 million prescriptions in the Unites States," the document notes.
"With a month's supply of Rosiglitazone costing between $90 and $200, Glaxo was able to rack up sales of $2.2 billion in 2006," it adds. Knowing by way of 42 different studies of patients using the drug that its product "was unreasonably dangerous ... Glaxo continued to expand sales."
Consumers should monitor closely defective drugs, such as Vioxx and now Avandia, and speak to their doctor immediately if taking the drug.
For more information on this subject, please refer to our section on Drugs, Medical Devices, and Implants.