Avandia, the Type-2 diabetes drug produced by GlaxoSmithKline has been warned against by the Food and Drug Administration, as well as banned in both Europe and the UAE. Experts claim that Avandia may be responsible for causing heart problems as well as strokes in patients.

The spokesman for GlaxoSmithKline stated that he respected the decisions made, however he feels that Avandia still plays a very important role in the treatment of Type-2 diabetes. While the drug is outright banned throughout Europe and the UAE, in the US, it can still be used only after both the patient and their doctor attest that they have tried every other drug for diabetes, as well as made aware about the risks.

Studies have indicated that over 47,000 patients using Avnadia may have experienced a heart attack or stroke from the drug in just the last decade alone. When questioned, Dr. David Graham, who is a senior drug examiner for the FDA, stated, “There was no reason for the agency to keep the risky diabetes drug on the market, now that another drug Actos, which is in the same class, but much safer, compared to the Avandia.”

In 2009, sales of Avandia totaled $1.2 billion worldwide, and have been down considerably after news spread of the possible side effects which can also include bone fractures, eye damage and hepatoxicity. In July GlaxoSmithKline paid out $460 million as a settlement to over 10,000 cases against it for the drug. Billions of dollars more could be rewarded to victims and victim’s families who used the drug over the last decade.