According to the study published in New England Journal of Medicine, Avandia, drug used in Type2 diabetes, increases the risk of cardiac-related fatalities by 64 per cent % and heart attacks by 43%. Avandia (Rosiglitazone) is in use since 1999 to treat Type2 diabetes generally in combination with Metformin or Glimipride.
The study was conducted over the extensive period of 2 years on 28,000 people. According to the study, 65% of deaths among diabetic patients using this drug is due to heart disease.
This drug is in wide use worldwide with more than 6 million people are taking this drug solely or in combination to control blood sugar level. Diabetes affects 18 million people in America and 200 million people worldwide.
Avandia (Rosiglitazone) is a Thiazolidinedione group of drug which was widely used in the treatment of type2 diabetes. Previously Troglitazone was removed from the market due to hepato-toxicity. The thiazolidinediones are agonists for peroxisome-proliferator–activated receptor (PPAR).
GlaxoSmithKline questioned the authority of this research and released a report supporting its argument. Food and Drug administration issued an alert and appointed a panel to look into this issue.
Previously, Merck drug pain killer “Vioxx” was removed from the market on the similar concerns (heart diseases).
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