New Avandia Study Will Do Little To Tip The Scale Against GSK Drug

Implications: GlaxoSmithKline's Avandia is already under scrutiny, but the latest study will do little to tip the scale in terms of the risk/benefit analysis required before taking any medication.

Analysis: The allegations against Avandia need further research, but it's benefits are well-established. Remember, the FDA approved the drug because it is effective.

While new  questions are now being raised beyond the claims that Avandia presents heart risks, the new claims, regarding bone health, are less well established and present a less immediate risk. If a physician and patient decide that the treatment benefits of Avandia outweigh the potential heart risks, it is unlikely that this new study, without more collaboration, will have any impact on that risk/benefit analysis. Therefore, in terms of the outlook for Avandia, this latest allegation is only of minimal consequence.