AVANDIA LINKED TO HEART ATTACKS AND DEATH

DIABETES MEDICATION LINKED TO HIGHER RISK OF HEART ATTACK & DEATH

 The Senate Finance Committee released a report on February 20, 2010, revealing that drug maker GlaxoSmithKline knew of possible heart attack risks tied to Avandia, its diabetes medication, years before such evidence became public. Senators are asking the U.S. Food and Drug Administration why it allowed a clinical trial of Avandia to continue even after the agency estimated that the drug caused 83,000 heart attacks between 1999 and 2007.   To read the Finance Committee letter and report go to:   http://finance.senate.gov/press/Gpress/2010/prg022010b.pdf