Avandia, GlaxoSmithKline's (GSK) controversial diabetes drug, has again come under fire after more research was released claiming that the treatment increases the risk of heart attacks.

According to The Wall Street Journal, a research paper published by the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) found that patients taking Avandia had a 42 per cent greater chance of a heart attack than those in the control group.

The results, compiled from four separate clinical trials of Avandia lasting at least one year each, confirm earlier studies suggesting increased cardiological risks from taking Avandia.

In contrast, a separate paper also published by JAMA concluded Actos, a rival diabetes treatment from Takeda Pharmaceuticals, appeared to reduce patients' risk of heart attacks. The studies did not compare Avandia with Actos.

Background

• GSK plan to beat fakes may be scrapped

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• US Panel allows Glaxo to keep selling Avandia

• US rule on Avandia, with £1.2bn at stake for GSK

• GSK doubles buyback

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Avandia was GSK’s second-biggest selling drug last year, reaping £1.65 billion of global sales.

However, Avandia’s share of the US diabetes market fell to 33 per cent of the US market while Actos's share soared to 67 per cent.

In July, an advisory committee to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found that Avandia was tied to a risk of heart attacks but did not recommend the drug be withdrawn.

However, the FDA approved new “black box” warning labels for the drug to emphasise that it may trigger congestive heart failure and that patients should be monitored closely by their doctor.

A GSK spokesman told The Wall Street Journal that its prescriptions for the drug had rebounded over the past two weeks, and that the new research does “not confirm a difference in the safety profile” between Avandia and Actos.

Shares in GSK edged down from to £13.26 to £13.26 in early trading.

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