Type 2 diabetes drug taken by 100,000 in UK may be banned over heart disease fears



A pharmacist holds a bottle of Avandia pills - a drug that is under investigation by the Europeans Medicine Agency

A drug taken by thousands of men and women with diabetes could be banned over concerns that it raises the risk of heart disease.



The safety of Avandia - currently prescribed to 100,000 people in Britain - is under investigation by the Europeans Medicine Agency, a watchdog with the power to withdraw treatments in Britain.



It follows research that shows the drug puts users at a 60 per cent greater risk of heart failure than other medication.

Avandia is currently prescribed to people with type 2 diabetes, the form of the disease linked to obesity which usually occurs in middle age.



It is already being investigated in the US by the Food and Drugs Administration, the medicines watchdog, who will report their findings next week.



Later this month it will come under scrutiny from experts from the EMA which could lead to it being withdrawn from the market completely.



In the meantime GSK has advised patients to carry on taking the tablets, also known as rosiglitazone, but said those with serious concerns should consult their GP.



Dr Tony Hoos, European Medical Director for GlaxoSmithKline said: 'GSK is fully committed to patient safety and believes that rosiglitazone is an important treatment option for appropriate Type 2 diabetes patients. It is one of the most extensively researched diabetes medicines and has been studied in more than 50,000 patients.



'Diabetes is a chronic, long term condition with serious consequences, and patients should not stop taking rosiglitazone, or any other medicine for type 2 diabetes, without consulting their doctor.'



Avandia was once GSK second-biggest selling drug but sales have plunged since safety concerns first emerged three years ago.



Research in Canada in 2007 suggested that the drug puts users at a 60 per cent greater risk of heart failure, a 40 per cent greater risk of heart attack and a 29 per cent greater risk of death than other medication.



The study published yesterday in the Journal of the American Medical Association, warned that the drug 'may cause more harm than good'.



Then two years ago researchers from the University of East Anglia and Wake Forest University in North Carolina suggested that Avandia could raise women's risk of breaking bones.



There have even have been reports that GSK knew of the possible side effects several years ago - the firm has always denied this however.



Since the safety concerns were raised several patients in America have filed lawsuits against GSK.