The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a statement announcing that it will be investigating a possible link between the diabetes drug saxagliptin and an increase in the risk for heart failure.
According to the agency, its decision to investigate is based on results from a study published last September by the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM). According to study authors, patients who received saxagliptin for diabetes were more likely to be hospitalized for heart failure than those not treated with the medication.
The study involved approximately 16,500 patients with type 2 diabetes from 26 countries. According to study authors, they did not find a link between the diabetes drug and heart attack, but they did find that those who took the medication were more likely to be hospitalized for heart failure.
The FDA said makers of the drug are required to submit detailed trial data to the agency this month. The agency also said results from the study were preliminary and that patients taking the medication should not stop treatment without consulting their doctors first.
According to the FDA, it will be looking into the cardiovascular risks associated with all diabetes drugs, not only saxagliptin.
Avandia, another drug prescribed to treat diabetes, has been linked to a 43 percent increase in the risk for heart attack and a 64 percent increased risk for cardiovascular death. These results came from a study published in NEJM.
To speak with an attorney about the risks associated with these drugs, or to find out if you qualify for a drug lawsuit, contact the defective drug lawyers at Flood Law Group today.
