QDIS Blog

I found this recent Forbes article interesting. It reports on a large study called DREAM of the diabetic drug Avendia and how some see it as indicating an increase in heart attacks and strokes.

Glaxo’s Faustian Pill - Forbes.com

The increase in risk is described as 37% but in 62% of the patients with high blood sugars avoided developing diabetes. Without more data on the potential benefits, I don’t see this drug going anywhere. It may be useful in conjunction with a genetic test that might be developed to identify those who are at highest risks. If I was developing this drug, that’s definitely one area I would be actively investigating.

I think that the Vioxx factor may be playing a part. It seems everyone is looking for cardiovascular problems with just about any drug and if you look hard enough you find what you are looking for. now, I want to make it clear that I’m not saying we shouldn’t evaluate risks but that you have to weigh the risk against the reward. In this case, defining the rewards are much more difficult.

Technorati Tags: Avendia, GlaxoSmithKline, Vioxx factor

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