GlaxoSmithKline responds to critical US Senate Finance Committee, defending safety of its Avandia

Following allegations that UK drugs giant GlaxoSmithKline knew that its diabetes drug Avandia (rosiglitazone) increased the risk of heart attack among patients using it (The Pharma Letter February 22), the company yesterday responded to the US Senate Committee on Finance's highly critical staff report with a strong defense of itself and of its product, claiming the report was erroneous and inaccurate.

In its response, GSK states that the Staff Report fails to present an accurate, balanced, or complete view of the currently available information on Avandia. 'The company rejects any allegations of concealing safety information or acting inappropriately on behalf of patients. GSK respectfully disagrees with the Committee's decision to publish a Staff Report with the errors of fact, omission, and inference detailed in this White Paper,' it stated.

A fair examination of the company's record will show that GSK has been diligent in its efforts to thoroughly study the safety and effectiveness of Avandia, and to widely communicate that information to governments, regulatory authorities, scientific peers, physicians and others in a variety of ways, the drug giant argued.