Avandia recall?

You may be able to sue even without a recall

It has been concluded that the diabetes drug Avandia (manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline Plc, technical name: Rosiglitazone Maleate) raises the risk of heart attacks by 43%, according to findings published in The New England Journal of Medicine. This drug was approved in 1999 for the treatment of Type II diabetes. Since then there have been numerous reports of injuries and deaths of patients who took this drug, but like Vioxx, apparently neither the manufacturer nor the FDA took any action. In a belated move, FDA is forcing the company to add a black-box warning, which means that the drug is so dangerous that it should be taken only as a last resort. While Dr. David Graham had recommended that the drug be recalled due to its serious heart risks, a panel of experts (who often work as consultants to drug companies) voted against a ban.

At this time, the company has refused to take any action and like Merck and Pfizer (that dragged its feet on Bextra and Celebrex) and is hoping that another ongoing research will prove that this latest research is wrong.

Dr. Steven Nissen of the Cleveland Clinic was the one to find that the drug raised the risk of heart attacks by 43% and possibly heart-related deaths as well. A study that the company has published also did not impress scientists. Dr. David Nathan, chief of diabetes care at Massachusetts General Hospital responds, "This study, which was designed to show the benefit of rosiglitazone (Avandia), if anything shows the opposite."

So what can you do?

First of all, consult with your doctor immediately and discuss your treatment options.
Secondly, hire an attorney immediately to discuss if you can file a personal injury lawsuit against the company, particularly if you or your family member suffered a heart attack. Several analysts estimate that as much as $10 billion may be awarded to injured patients.

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