JACKSONVILLE, FL -- (MARKET WIRE) -- May 23, 2007 -- Richard Hellman, MD, FACP, FACE, President of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinology, today expressed the Association’s concern regarding the article by Dr. Steven Nissen, entitled, “Effect of Rosiglitazone on the Risk of Myocardial Infarction and Death from Cardiovascular Causes,” published on May 21st by The New England Journal of Medicine. Dr. Hellman said that AACE agrees with the action taken by the FDA in issuing a safety alert to increase awareness regarding the issues raised by Dr. Steven Nissen in the article about the increased cardiovascular risk that may be linked with the use of Avandia in treating patients with type II diabetes. AACE is not suggesting at this time that its members stop prescribing Avandia altogether. However, because Dr. Nissen’s study raises a possibility that certain patients, such as those who have heart disease may be at especially high risk, AACE feels that, pending more definitive studies regarding the safety of Avandia, it is important that physicians discuss this with patients who may be on Avandia or other drugs in this class, and that the potential increased risks raised by Dr. Nissen and FDA be carefully considered in determining the best course of action for these patients.
