GlaxoSmithKline Cheers $2.3 Billion Fine for Causing 800 Heart Attacks Per Month

Sarah Cain

GlaxoSmithKline has been under fire recently because its diabetes drug, Avandia, causes heart attacks.  That’s just another minor complication that patients were never warned about.  It is a particularly disturbing situation, since those who have diabetes are already at an increased risk of heart failure.  We have written about Avandia previously, but we were under the impression that it was about to be removed from the market.  We over-estimated the Food and Drug Administration.  The F.D.A. reevaluated the drug, which caused Glaxo’s stocks to drop at the prospect of a massive fine.  Investors must cover their assets, after all.  It was predicted by some analysts that the F.D.A. would finally drop the hammer on GlaxoSmithKline, and penalize it by $6 billion.  This amount is two-thirds of their annual profit ($8 billion).

— New York Times

The F.D.A. gave the company a gentle public slap to keep up appearances, but then allowed GlaxoSmithKline to keep the drug on the market.  The term ‘corruption’ cannot even begin to describe our current health care system.  The decision to allow Avandia to continue being sold was a victory for GlaxoSmithKline and its investors, but a massive blow to Americans.  It is outrageous, and it is ever apparent who the F.D.A. really represents.  How many Americans would want to keep a drug on the market that causes diabetics to have heart attacks?  Of course, most Americans would not terrorize cherry farmers for discussing their crop’s proven medicinal benefits, either.