Avandia Lawsuit Settled On Eve of Trial

GlaxoSmithKline has reportedly agreed to settle an Avandia lawsuit just before it was scheduled to go to trial in Philadelphia. The case was scheduled to be the first trial out of thousands of lawsuits that claim the drug maker failed to warn that side effects of Avandia increase the risk of heart attacks and death. 

According to a report by Bloomberg News, the drug maker settled an Avandia heart attack lawsuit filed by the family of James Burford this weekend, on the eve of a trial that was supposed to begin this week. The company did not provide Bloomberg News with any details of the settlement.

Burford, of North Carolina, died at age 49 in November 2006 from a myocardial infarction after taking Avandia to control his diabetes for about a year. According to the complaint, his family alleged that his death could have been prevented if the U.K. drug maker had adequately researched their medication and warned about the increased risk of heart problems from Avandia.

Did You Know?

Millions of Philips CPAP Machines Recalled

Philips DreamStation, CPAP and BiPAP machines sold in recent years may pose a risk of cancer, lung damage and other injuries.

Learn More

The settlement comes less than two weeks after Glaxo announced that it will set aside $3.4 billion to cover costs associated with the Avandia litigation and a federal investigation into the company’s actions involving the drug’s side effects. The set aside is expected to wipe out the company’s fourth-quarter 2010 profits, which will be announced in February.

The latest set aside is on top of a $2.36 billion charge the company made in the summer to deal with Avandia and Paxil lawsuits. At that time, it was reported that the drug maker had agreed to pay $460 million in Avandia settlements to resolve lawsuits filed by about 10,000 people.

Avandia (rosiglitazone) was first approved in the United States in 1998 to treat type 2 diabetes by helping control blood sugar levels. The drug has been used by millions of diabetics, but sales plummeted following concerns about potential Avandia heart risks.

Some experts estimate that between 60,000 and 200,000 Avandia heart attacks and deaths may have occurred in the United States between 1999 to 2006 as a result of the popular diabetes drug.

Image Credit: |

12 Comments

  • JAYApril 4, 2013 at 6:38 am

    I AM ONE OF THE MORE THAN 5,000 INNOCENTS PRESCRIBED AVANDIA AND HAVE WAITED YEARS TO RECEIVE A PROMISE OF COMPENSATION FOR WHICH SO FAR I FIND OUT THAT THE CASE WAS SETTLED BY GLAXO-SMITH-KLINE TO THE TUNE OF $3 USD BILLION DOLLARS - I AM STILL WAITING FOR WHAT I UNDERSTAND AT MY AGE OF 78 FOR FAIRNESS - HAS ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY IDEAS WHAT WE SHOULD EXPECT? JMBENNETT

  • joeNovember 6, 2012 at 8:53 pm

    A written report came out in july 2007. This was only a report, not facts. Has of today, it is still not a fact. GSK is not guilty of anything YET. Has of Nov, 2011, in order to get the drug, you must sign off saying that you are aware of the report saying heart attack increase when taken this drug. When you do this, the doctors will call it in for you to get it. One of the biggest problem is peop[Show More]A written report came out in july 2007. This was only a report, not facts. Has of today, it is still not a fact. GSK is not guilty of anything YET. Has of Nov, 2011, in order to get the drug, you must sign off saying that you are aware of the report saying heart attack increase when taken this drug. When you do this, the doctors will call it in for you to get it. One of the biggest problem is people knowing the law. By law GSK is not guilty of any wrong doing. Then you ask, "why are they paying settlement". This is why it is called settlement, you will settle for x amount of money and you must sign off a statement saying GSK is not guilty of any wrong doing.

  • ViolaOctober 24, 2012 at 10:39 pm

    If the Avandia drug was a problem b4 2010 or earler why wasn't the public notify sooner. Is it right for pharmetical company to still keep the drug on the market.

  • JamesMay 28, 2011 at 7:25 pm

    I started taking Avandia just before 2007 as a result I died on December 29th 2009 of congested heart failure or a fatal cardiac arrhythmia. I am scheduled for open heart surgery next month, I have gone through 6 procedures for plural edema with no good results right lung still is half filled with fluid in surrounding sack. Also, in stage three renal failure all as a result of taking Avandia. Now,[Show More]I started taking Avandia just before 2007 as a result I died on December 29th 2009 of congested heart failure or a fatal cardiac arrhythmia. I am scheduled for open heart surgery next month, I have gone through 6 procedures for plural edema with no good results right lung still is half filled with fluid in surrounding sack. Also, in stage three renal failure all as a result of taking Avandia. Now, I tell you all of this because I retained one of those attorneys that advertised for Avandia cases 2 years ago and still nothing in fact I was told they still don't have any records yet and may take another year yet??? Lol, really!!! It took me 3days to gather all my records from hospitals etc. To give to the thorastic survey doing the open heart surgery. 3days!!! Anyway, I am looking for one of those attorneys name and number to contact that have recently settled these cases I have read about but, only a good one please already had a bad one. I have close to $10,000 in co-pay debt already and will have even more after surgery. So please if you help let me know.

  • joshMay 18, 2011 at 7:07 am

    "Bob", You're full of it, the supposed amount you got isn't anywhere near what the real amounts are. Nobody in their right mind, would make that kind of deal, not even your attny's. it would've been deemed a waste of time and money if that were the case. plus, they only take 40%, you'd have gotten atleast a bit more than $900 bucks. Nice try.

  • joeMarch 30, 2011 at 6:17 pm

    to "Mr. TENDER LOVING CARE " of West Va, I love your comment. You take care.

  • MR.T.L.C. - W.Va.March 25, 2011 at 9:22 pm

    My Comments on this day 03/25/2011 is as follows. I see Glaxo Smith & Kline has started to settle AVANDIA LAWSUITS Some before they even made it in the Court Rooms. Thats great for some but what about the people still waiting like thousands who have had their life lost or in a wheel chair for life when will they see their time for Compensation. My thougts go out for the ones who have takin ACT[Show More]My Comments on this day 03/25/2011 is as follows. I see Glaxo Smith & Kline has started to settle AVANDIA LAWSUITS Some before they even made it in the Court Rooms. Thats great for some but what about the people still waiting like thousands who have had their life lost or in a wheel chair for life when will they see their time for Compensation. My thougts go out for the ones who have takin ACTOS and have had the same side effects as Avandia. They have had heart attacks and you can say they have had all the same side effects that Avandia Has to offer. I know this WHY Because I was on ACTOS an I HAD TWO HEART ATTACKS and it was"t from AVANDIA either. So to me you Put AVANDIA & ACTOS in a BAG Either one can fall out meaning To me./ They are both the SAME and CAN CAUSE AS MUCH Heath damage from taking either one of them. So we all heard about AVANDIA & THEM ( GLAXO SMITH & KLINE) SETTLING Avandia cases some before they even made it in the Court Rooms. So lets hear a lot more what is going to Be offered to ACTOS lawsuits and people having heart problems or say maybe even a HEART ATTACK. So my Comments are just about over with for this day. I hope each and every plaintiff gets the MOST Compensation from these two Lawsuits on AVANDIA & ACTOS Very soon In the Future here in The Year 2011. I"m Finished now. So I say To All. - MGTUA - MAY GOD TAKE US ALL - Thank you too for reading My Comments Today - 03/25/2011 Time Now - 5:16 -PM - EST USA With all cares to You & Your FAMILIES From - MR.T.L.C. & Family Here in W.Va. GOOD DAY.......

  • joeMarch 16, 2011 at 12:20 pm

    You have got be kidding me, Bob. If you are going to post this, at least make it sound somewhat believable. If you settled for that amount, it is your problem. But I know What you post is a lie. Don't said one thing and then contradict your statement within the same sentence. Received this amount but I can't talk about it. Go back to your training class and learn how to lie with at least some con[Show More]You have got be kidding me, Bob. If you are going to post this, at least make it sound somewhat believable. If you settled for that amount, it is your problem. But I know What you post is a lie. Don't said one thing and then contradict your statement within the same sentence. Received this amount but I can't talk about it. Go back to your training class and learn how to lie with at least some convincing.

  • bobMarch 7, 2011 at 9:08 pm

    got my papers today on settlement amount. 9000 and when attys got thru deducting i would get 875 dollars. couldn't believe it.thought i was the one who went thru all the suffering.do not get your hopes up...i am still stuck with chf etc etc, and i get a lousy 800 dollars.. and they want you to sign a paper sayin you won't talk about it.gsk won again wish i hadn't wasted my time

  • joeMarch 3, 2011 at 12:42 pm

    Peter, you will never know the settlement. reason: I t was settle out of court, therefore GSK won't have to admit any damages was done to the Buford family.

  • peterMarch 2, 2011 at 3:27 pm

    when are we going to hear how much money lawsuit of family of james buford got iam very curious i dont like being thrown under a bus

  • MarieFebruary 25, 2011 at 2:38 am

    It sucks that people are losing their lives because of some meds that are supposed be good for them turns out to be really bad.

Share Your Comments

I authorize the above comments be posted on this page*

Want your comments reviewed by a lawyer?

To have an attorney review your comments and contact you about a potential case, provide your contact information below. This will not be published.

NOTE: Providing information for review by an attorney does not form an attorney-client relationship.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

More Top Stories

Gardasil Lawsuits Over Failure To Warn Doctors About HPV Vaccine Risks Cleared To Move Forward
Gardasil Lawsuits Over Failure To Warn Doctors About HPV Vaccine Risks Cleared To Move Forward (Posted today)

A federal judge has cleared Gardasil lawsuits to move forward, after paring down plaintiffs' claims to those alleging Merck either failed to warn, or fraudulently concealed, the HPV vaccine's risks from the medical community.