Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles, P.C.

The diabetes drug Avandia will no longer be sold at retail pharmacies beginning in November because of the serious health risks it poses to patients. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) voted to severely restrict use of Avandia and related drugs last fall after studies showed that users with type 2 diabetes who took the drug were at a 40 percent increased risk of heart attack. Beginning in November, patients will only be able to get the drug by mail order from certified pharmacies participating in a special agency-supported program.

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Results of a clinical study announced in New Orleans recently appeared to exonerate Avandia from long-held suspicions that the drug causes adverse cardiovascular events in patients undergoing treatment for diabetes 2. Many doctors and other critics, however, say that the study is flawed and remain unconvinced of the findings. Financial analysts believe the results will likely give GlaxoSmithKline’s one-time blockbuster drug a sales boost.

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