Claris Law Legal Blogging Community

Editor: Robert J. Binstock
Profession: Avandia Attorney

Category: Avandia Heart Attack

Yesterday two U.S. pharmacy benefit services removed Avandia from their formularies due to safety concerns. Prime Therapeutics and HealthTrans made the decisions after careful analysis of safety data and efficacy analysis. This removal follows an October announcement by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs of a plan to restrict the use of Avandia. The drug was thrown into the public spotlight in May when a New England Journal of Medicine article linked Avandia to a 43 percent increased risk of heart attack. Since that time Avandia has received two "black box" warnings from the FDA, to inform consumers of potential risks.

Manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline was surprised and disappointed by the actions reminding consumers that the FDA has said that the heart attack evidence is inconclusive and has only warned of potential dangers. One year ago Avandia was a blockbuster treatment for diabetes, generating $3.2 billion in sales in 2006. Since May sales have fallen of by 48 percent and are likely to continue to plummet in the future. If other companies follow the trend started by Prime and HealthTrans the GlaxoSmithKline could be seeing onetime all-star fall off the map.