GlaxoSmithKline dismisses asthma drug study claims

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has dismissed a new study suggesting certain asthma inhalers can cause up to 80 per cent of asthma-related deaths.

The study from Cornell and Stanford universities states that the long-acting beta-agonists (LABA) salmeterol and formeterol, can lead to asthma-related deaths and has led to calls for the drugs to be withdrawn.

LABAs produce bronchodilation and can help improve asthma symptoms when taken regularly over time. However, controversy has surrounded the drugs following reports given to the FDA suggesting a link between asthma-related deaths and use of the drugs.

The new study, carried out by Edwin Salpeter and Shelley Salpeter, investigated 26,000 patients over six months and concluded that long-acting beta-agonists could lead to a four-fold increase in asthma related deaths.

It states: “The use of LABAs could be associated with a clinically significant number of unnecessary hospitalizations, intensive care unit admissions and deaths each year.

“Black box warnings on the labelling for these agents clearly outline the increased risk for asthma-related deaths associated with their use, but these warnings have not changed prescribing practices of physicians.”

It adds the box information should be used to reassess whether the drugs should be withdrawn from the market.

However, GSK has dismissed the new report, rejecting suggestions that patients taking LABAs were more likely to die from asthma or be hospitalised

A spokesperson for GSK told APM: “The conclusions from this study are irresponsible and inaccurate.

“No new data are included in the study and the safety and efficacy profile of LABAs are well established with regulators and physicians worldwide, with product labelling for LABAs already including appropriate information about the safe use of these products.”

GSK recently saw a decline in prescriptions for its diabetes and asthma drugs, which fell by 14 per cent and 4.4 per cent respectively.

Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein states that the weak prescription trends might be bolstered by increasing rates in the summer.

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