Avandia to Come off Retail Shelves

Citing the heart attack risks posed by Avandia, the federal government announced yesterday that the diabetes drug would be pulled from retail pharmacy shelves in November.

Under a new program taking effect on Nov. 18, only certified doctors will be allowed to prescribe the drug, but only to patients who've been informed of the risks and who have already been safely treated with it.  Those patients will have to get their prescriptions filled by mail order through specific pharmacies.

Avandia, once the world’s best-selling diabetes pill, is used to treat people with type 2 diabetes.  However, studies have shown the drug increases heart attack risk by about 40% in those patients.  Type 2 diabetes affects about 23 million Americans.

In 2007, FDA drug-safety expert David Graham reported to an advisory committee that Avandia had caused heart problems, including deaths, in 66,000 to 200,000 people.

The attorneys at Messa & Associates are experienced at handling cases involving pharmaceutical and drug product injuries.  Our skilled team of attorneys has successfully pursued litigation and obtained verdicts and settlements for victims of pharmaceutical injuries.  If you or a loved one has suffered serious injuries as a result of taking the diabetes drug Avandia, please contact us at 1-877-MessaLaw.