Reports of Heart Failure Lead to FDA Probe into AstraZeneca Diabetes Drugs
On Tuesday, February 11th, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that they would review claims that AstraZeneca diabetes drug saxagliptin (Onglyza and Kombiglyze XR name brands) after reports that the drug can lead to heart disease or failure.
The agency has requested clinical trial data after the New England Journal of Medicine published a report in September that showed a small increase in hospitalizations for heart failure among patients taking saxagliptin.
The report was backed by AstraZeneca and Bristol-Myers Squibb Co, the company helping AstraZeneca develop saxagliptin before AstraZeneca bought all the rights to the drug on February 3rd.
The FDA noted that it considered the report in NEJM to be preliminary, and said that doctors could continue to prescribe Onglyza to patients with diabetes.
The FDA said that the review of AstraZeneca’s saxagliptin is part of a larger review of heart complications related to Type 2 diabetes medications. Heart problems have been a concern for several years with drugs developed to treat Type 2 diabetes. Both Actos – manufactured by Takeda Pharmaceuticals – and Avandia – produced by GlaxoSmithKline – have come under fire for their close link to heart problems in patients taking the prescription medications for over two years.
Dangerous Pharmaceuticals and Personal Injury
Did you know that every year approximately 200,000 Americans die from prescription drug reactions? While the U.S. government pours billions of dollars into illegal drug interdiction every year, more Americans die from problems with legal, prescription drugs than illegal ones. Sometimes these complications lead to drug recalls, but often the process takes years, while consumers file complaints and personal injury lawsuits against the pharmaceutical company pile up.
To protect yourself and your family, it’s important to know what products and drugs have been recalled because they are defective or unsafe. Federal agencies such as the FDA (Food and Drug Administration), the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture), and the CPSC (U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission) frequently issue recalls for medical devices, drugs, and products that may be harmful to consumers. Every year, thousands of consumers sustain serious injuries from defective drugs. Some consumers even die after taking a dangerous drug that has not been recalled. Many of these problems could be avoided if the manufacturers or distributors of these products took additional steps to ensure consumer safety.
The Strom Law Firm Can Help with AstraZeneca and Diabetes Drug Personal Injury Lawsuit
Did you or a loved one suffer any of the following injuries?
- Undergoing treatment for Congestive Heart Failure
- Heart Attack
- Stroke
- Congestive Heart Failure resulting in death
The pharmaceutical liability lawyers at The Strom Law Firm, LLC are at the forefront of the fight to protect the public and will stand up for your rights against the big drug and insurance companies that produce dangerous drugs and products like saxagliptin from AstraZeneca. We will fight to ensure that you and your loved ones receive the justice you deserve. Contact our defective drug and wrongful death attorneys at the Strom Law Firm, LLC today for a free consultation to discuss the facts of your case as well as your legal rights. Contact us today. 803.252.4800.
