Cochrane Review finds GSK's Avandia is no better at HbA1c control than cheaper drugs

A Cochrane Systematic Review of data from 18 trials involving a total of 8,432 people found no evidence that GlaxoSmithKline's Avandia (rosiglitazone) led to better patient outcomes when compared with other therapies. HbA1c control was no better in Avandia patients than those on other anti-diabetics, noted the authors of the report.

The review concludes that no clinically-relevant differences in metabolic control were noted between Avandia and other anti-diabetics. However, the UK drug major highlighted the limited nature of the analyzed data, and criticized the fact that the conclusions are drawn from a limited number of short-term studies of its one-time blockbuster drug, despite the fact that clinical guidelines have indicated the importance of long-term control.

The UK firm noted that ADOPT, the only long-term study included, which lasted between four and six years, comparing Avandia with metformin and glibenclamide, found that the GSK drug maintained glycemic control for longer than these commonly-used agents: a 32% and 63% risk reduction of monotherapy failure compared to metformin and glibenclamide, respectively.