FDA Not Sure If Diabetes Drug Safe

June 6, 2007 — -- After more than eight years on the market and with a million Americans taking Avandia, the question on Capitol Hill Wednesday was why the Food and Drug Administration still doesn't know whether or not the drug increases the risk of heart attacks.

"Despite additional warnings from outside experts, despite the millions of patients who rely on Avandia to control their blood sugar, and despite the potential risks involved, FDA never required the manufacturer to conduct a thorough postmarket study of its heart risks," said Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

The agency, which admitted it's seriously understaffed, said it is still poring over reams of complicated evidence.

FDA Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach admitted to the panel, "Up to this point in time we have not had sufficient data of a nature that we could rely upon to draw that conclusion."

"We should not in this country have a medication taken by millions and millions of diabetics that's been approved since 1999 and have the commissioner of the FDA sit in front of Congress today and say I don't know if this drug is safe or not," Dr. Jerry Avorn of Harvard Medical School said of the commissioner's testimony.

GlaxoSmithKline and Avandia have been in the spotlight after the publication last month of a study highlighting some potential risks of the drug. Researchers found that study participants taking the drug had a 43 percent greater risk for heart attack and a 64 percent higher chance of dying from cardiovascular causes than those in a control group who did not take the medication.

Dr. Steven Nissen, one of the co-authors of that article, was also called on the carpet about whether he was seeking the truth or publicity.

"So going to Capitol Hill for a political purpose to get publicity here in a hearing is actually the way it's done?" asked Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C.

"With all due respect, sir, this is about patients, it's not about politics," replied Nissen.