Defective Drugs and Side Effects
This section includes:
Avandia Heart Attack and Heart Failure Lawyers
GlaxoSmithKline’s diabetes drug Avandia (rosiglitazone) has been further linked with serious side effects as of May 2007. The results of a recent study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, suggest a direct link between the use of Avandia and the increased risk of serious cardiovascular irregularities.
The wide-ranging study involved 42 groups and more than 27,000 patients. Approximately 15,560 patients were treated with Avandia while the remaining patients were treated with alternative regimens. The study concluded that patients taking Avandia were 43 percent more likely to suffer a heart attack and 64 percent more likely to suffer cardiovascular disease. Such a dramatic increase is ironic, considering that the diabetes drug may increase the risk of heart disease, the most serious complication of diabetes.
GlaxoSmithKline Response
Shares of GlaxoSmithKline’s stock have dropped significantly since the news broke regarding the drug’s link with heart disease. GlaxoSmithKline have responded to the recent study by stating that the results were based on incomplete evidence and therefore inaccurate. The FDA confirmed alerting the company of a potential safety warning regarding Avandia as early as 2005, though neither they nor the company took appropriate steps to alert consumers until after the results of this most recent study were fast-tracked for publication in the New England Journal of Medicine.
There were more than 13 million prescriptions of Avandia written in the United States in 2006, generating in excess of $2 Billion dollars for GlaxoSmithKline. Already, the drug is being paralleled with Vioxx, another pharmaceutical that was pulled from the market as a result of serious side effects. Merck, the manufacturer of Vioxx, remains embroiled in litigation surrounding injuries caused by the drug. GlaxoSmithKline must now ready itself to defend against what many believe will be a slew of justified injury claims resulting from use of the diabetes drug.
Avandia Lawsuits
If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of using GlaxoSmithKline’s Avandia, you may be eligible to receive compensation for your pain, suffering, medical bills, etc. Failure of a drug company to adequately ensure the safety and efficacy of their products prior to making them available for public consumption is viewed as negligent and grounds for litigation.
The Lawyers of Andrus Boudreaux are adept at dealing with a wide variety of injuries caused by various product defects and manufacturer negligence. Contact us to get additional information regarding your rights and as an Avandia injury victim.