The same cardiologist, Dr. Steven Nissen, of the Cleveland Clinic, who blew the whistle on the heart risks of the Merck blockbuster arthritis medicine Vioxx, has published a study in the New England Journal of Medicine finding that the blockbuster GlaxoSmithKline diabetes drug Avandia carries a high heart attack risk. In a press release, Glaxo announced that it “strongly disagrees with the conclusions reached in the NEJM article, which are based on incomplete evidence and a methodology that the author admits has significant limitations.” Patients and doctors are understandably confused by these developments; Glaxo’s stock is falling like a rock, and the FDA must be circling the wagons for another round of Congressional oversight hearings.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Dr. Nissen conducted his study using Glaxo studies that he dredged up with the Google search engine. Google Avadia now and you’ll find Avandia Heart Attack Class Action right at the top of the page. There has to be a better way to address these drug safety issues.