GlaxoSmithKline stepped up its defence of Avandia, the diabetes medicine, last night after the release of fresh data that the company claimed showed little significant difference between the drug’s safety record and that of other common diabetes treatments.

However, critics said that the results were inconclusive and would not end the debate surrounding the drug’s alleged link with an increased risk of heart problems.

Interim results from a continuing study published last night by the New England Journal of Medicine pointed to relatively low levels of heart problems overall and little difference between Avandia, GSK’s second-bestselling drug, and control groups.

The study, overseen by scientists from Newcastle University, examined the risk of heart attacks and death in 4,400 patients with type2 diabetes. Overall, the study indicated that slightly more people on Avandia suffered heart problems than those on other diabetes medicines – although the difference was so small that it could have occurred by chance.

BACKGROUND

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A spokesman for GSK described the data as “very reassuring” for Avandia patients, although he said that no conclusions could be drawn because the study was incomplete.

The results were released on the eve of a US congressional hearing into the drug’s safety. The hearing is the first of many regarding the blockbuster drug, which generated over $3 billion in sales last year for GSK.

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