GSK issues statement on thiazolidinediones and heart failure

GlaxoSmithKline has presented an analysis of already-existing data regarding the risk of heart failure related to the use of thiazolinediones as a treatment for diabetes. This teleo-analysis is based on data published online in Diabetes Care in May 2007.

In the analysis, the firm notes that the risk of heart failure as a result of administration of this class of drugs is well-documented and identified to physicians prescribing the medication.

The firm adds that, while issues of patient safety are overriding, type two diabetes itself has serious attendant health risks, including amputation, blindness, kidney failure and stroke.

Dr Alastair Benbow, European medical director at GSK, said: “Rosiglitazone therefore has an important role to play as one of the medicines doctors can use to treat the two million patients currently diagnosed with type two diabetes in the UK.”

GSK reiterates that the increased risk of fluid retention following treatment with thiazolinediones which can result in heart failure or make existing conditions worse is fully documented in the prescribing information for rosiglitazone in the EU.

Last week, GSK issued a response to the meta-analysis of rosiglitazone recently conducted by the Cochrane Collaboration, claiming that the limited number of studies involved found the report drawing misleading conclusions regarding administration of the compound.