Senator: Drug Agency's Own Study Showed Diabetes Drug's Risks

UNDATED (AP) -- A key member of Congress says the government has known for years about the heart attack risks of the diabetes pill Avandia.<br/><br/>Iowa Senator Charles Grassley says the government's

Thursday, May 24th 2007, 9:36 pm

By: News On 6

UNDATED (AP) -- A key member of Congress says the government has known for years about the heart attack risks of the diabetes pill Avandia.

Iowa Senator Charles Grassley says the government's own preliminary evaluation of Avandia confirmed the heart risks and that as many as 60,000 to 100,000 heart attacks might be linked to the medication's use. It's been on the market eight years.

In a floor statement placed in the Senate record, Grassley also said that safety watchdogs within the Food and Drug Administration recommended a "black box" warning on the drug's label "several months ago." Such a label is the strongest possible warning.

More than six million people worldwide have taken the drug. Its U.S. sales topped $2.2 billion last year. It's sold by he British company GlaxoSmithKline.