Glaxo Agrees to Pay $90M in Avandia Settlements With 38 States
By: Irvin Jackson | Published: November 19th, 2012
GlaxoSmithKline has agreed to pay another $90 million to settle Avandia lawsuits, this time resolving claims brought by 38 different states that alleged the drug maker deceived Medicare programs about the safety and effectiveness of their controversial diabetes drug.
Despite agreeing to pay more than a billion dollars so far in Avandia settlements, GlaxoSmithKline continues to deny that they provided misleading or inaccurate information about the potential Avandia side effects.
Avandia (rosiglitazone) was a popular type 2 diabetes drug that was used by millions of people before it was linked to an increased risk of heart attacks and heart problems. As a result of the potential health risks, the FDA has now severely restricted access to Avandia.
The company has previously settled more than 25,000 Avandia injury lawsuits brought on behalf of former users who suffered serious or potentially fatal injuries.
In July, Glaxo agreed to the largest healthcare fraud settlement in U.S. history, including fines and civil claims of about $3 billion over its marketing of Avandia, Paxil and Wellbutrin.
Some estimates suggest that more than 100,000 heart attacks may have been caused by Avandia since it was introduced.
After concerns about the Avandia heart risks first surfaced in May 2007, the FDA required a “black box” warning, which is the strongest warning that can be placed on a medication label. However, many critics continued to argue that the warning was not strong enough and called for federal regulators to issue an Avandia recall because the risks greatly outweigh any benefit provided by the medication.
Although Avandia was banned from the European Union, the medication was allowed to remain on the market in the United States under severe restrictions. GlaxoSmithKline has since ceased marketing of the drug.
Comment by Elizabeth on 3 April 2013:
Has the cases in Georgia been settled yet?
Comment by Margaret on 4 April 2013:
I do not understand how this company . One person tells this then they give you to another and no one knows anything. I am not sure if any one knows what is going on.
Comment by Jay on 13 April 2013:
It is this way! The longer attorney’s hold off your settlements the more they can charge us in court costs reducing our settlements and more money for them. GSK has a judgmment from the court against them. Of course you realize if we have a judgment against us then we have only 30 days to pay it. There seems to be something fishey here. What’s the big secret? Why is there no way to find out what’s going on? I say the longer the lawyers take the more our settlelment should be. Don’t you agree?
Comment by Yolanda on 14 April 2013:
I don’t understand why my settlement is being detained, supposely since I was under private insurance that they are asking to be reimbursed. I do not see why, after all I was almost dieing. I was fighting for my life, not them. Why am I being penalized? I can assure you that if BC/BS gets audit they will show that they have made a big profit and that the employers and employees that pay their benfits will show how we come out on the short end.