Yet another glaring instance of the FDA showing who they really serve:
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. health authorities were aware of a type of heart risk linked to GlaxoSmithKline Plc's widely prescribed diabetes drug Avandia and another competitor nearly five years ago, consumer advocacy group Public Citizen said on Tuesday.
In 2002, U.S. Food and Drug Administration staff scientists called for reports of congestive heart failure to be included on the label of Avandia as well as Actos, made by Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., the group said, citing an internal FDA document.
The group released the memo one day after researchers reported Avandia, or rosiglitazone, raises the risk of other heart-related problems -- cardiovascular-related death by 64 percent and heart attack by 43 percent.