State of Texas reaches settlement with Avandia drug maker

AUSTIN – The State of Texas and a coalition of 37 states have reached a $90 million settlement with drug maker GlaxoSmithKline LLC over allegations it unlawfully promoted the diabetes drug Avandia.

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott made the announcement Thursday.  The State of Texas will receive $6.2 million under the agreement.   

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According to the settlement, GlaxoSmithKline unlawfully misrepresented Avandia's cardiovascular risks and safety profile.

As part of the judgement, GlaxoSmithKline may not:

  • Make any false, misleading, or deceptive claims about any diabetes drug.
  • Make comparative safety claims not supported by substantial evidence or substantial clinical experience.
  • Present favorable information previously thought of as valid but rendered invalid by contrary and more credible recent information.
  • Promote investigational drugs.
  • Misuse statistics or otherwise misrepresent the nature, applicability, or significance of clinical trials.

The judgment also requires GlaxoSmithKline to post summaries of its observational studies and summaries of clinical trials of diabetes products within eight months of trial completion. These and other requirements are in effect for a minimum of eight years.