In a follow-up to the study they published online on May 25 that warned about possible elevated heart attack risk associated with the diabetes drug rosiglitazone, (brand name Avandia), The New England Journal of Medicine has published another study this week that found no significant increase in risk of heart disease associated with the drug. (For more details about the first study, see "Type 2 Drug Avandia Linked to Increased Risk of Heart Attacks.")
The new study, published online on June 5, is an interim analysis of the RECORD trial, an ongoing study sponsored by rosiglitazone manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline that was designed specifically to look at cardiovascular outcomes related to long-term use of the drug. The full study is not scheduled to end until 2009.
The “unplanned interim analysis” published this week looked at 4,447 people with Type 2 diabetes whose blood glucose levels at the start of the study were not well-controlled by oral medicines in the sulfonylurea class or metformin. About half the participants were randomly assigned to add rosiglitazone to their drug regimens, while the other half received a combination of metformin and a sulfonylurea. The ongoing study is an open-label trial, meaning that participants and their doctors know which drugs the participants are taking.
After an average of 3.75 years of follow-up, the researchers found that 217 people died or were hospitalized due to heart disease in the rosiglitazone group compared to 202 people in the control group. However, this difference was not large enough to be statistically significant. Because the trial is still in progress, these results led the researchers to state that their findings are inconclusive so far.
Accompanying editorials written by doctors not involved in the study, however, were critical of the study’s design and unconvinced of the drug’s safety. One editorial pointed out other documented side effects that have been associated with rosiglitazone, including weight gain, rises in LDL (”bad”) cholesterol levels, increased risk of congestive heart failure, and increased risk of certain fractures in women (see the blog entry “Diabetes Drug Linked to Fracture Risk”). The experts reiterate that people should not stop taking rosiglitazone without consulting their diabetes-care providers, but instead should discuss with them whether rosiglitazone continues to be their best treatment choice.
Meanwhile, on June 5, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it will require both rosiglitazone and pioglitazone (Actos), the two diabetes drugs currently on the market in the thiazolidinedione (TZD) class, to feature “black box” warnings about their potential to increase risk of congestive heart failure. The drugs work in similar ways, and their potential to increase the risk of heart failure has been documented in their labeling since 2002. However, more than a year ago, the FDA’s safety reviewers recommended that tougher safety warnings be applied to these drugs. The black box warning, which is the strongest warning the FDA requires, will now have to appear on the package insert and promotional material for the drugs. In addition, Congress is currently investigating why the FDA delayed taking this action.
Hi,
Does this warning also include Avandamet. A Combination of Avandia and Metformin. This combination seems to work for me in controlling my sugar levels, but have gained weight. Don’t know whether it’s the drug or the insulin I also take. But I do not take as much insulin as I use to.
Also I am taking a new medicine that I think is affecting my sugars. They have been higher since I started taking it.
Posted by smity | Jun 13, 2007 at 5:24 pmnew data about Avandia is inconclusive regarding heart disease risk.
well I for one am scared of this med. my husband started taking it 8/20/06 and 10/17/06 he had a massive heart attack he had to have a 4 bypass sugary on the 23 rd because his heart was so damaged they wanted it to heal its self a little first or he would not make it now I know this is a little strange but only 58 days after he first started taking it what would you think and so fare they still have him on this drug till they find out how his diabetes is doing he is a type 2 I’m just afraid he might have another heart attack that might kill him this time we do get your magazine and I get your E-MAIL letters so please keep us updated about this drug thank you for your time DonnaLee
Posted by DonnaLee | Jun 14, 2007 at 2:42 amMy husband has been treated for almost 5 years now with ACTOS.I feel it is up to the FDA to make people aware of the severe risk of this medication. It’s a well know fact that people with diabetes have a greater risk of heart failure due to this health problem, then our own government won’t post the worst danger to those using this medication, so if we lose a loved one to this problem who get’s sued the manufactor or do we sue the FDA? I personally think the government should be held reliable beings they know the signifant risk and not enforcing the black box warning. If we can’t depend on our own government programs to protect us; then who can we trust.
Posted by bornagain21 | Jun 14, 2007 at 8:14 amSmity,
Ostensibly the new warning would apply to all drugs containing rosiglitazone, which are Avandia, Avandamet (a combination of pioglitazone and metformin), and Avandaryl (a combination of rosiglitazone and the sulfonylurea drug glimepiride), and all drugs containing pioglitazone, which are Actos, Actoplus met (a combination of pioglitazone and metformin) and duetact (a combination of pioglitazone and the sulfonylurea drug glimepiride).
Posted by Tara Dairman, Web Editor | Jun 14, 2007 at 9:51 am