Avandia Withdrawal Disparity Between U.S. and E.U.

According to new research from TNS Healthcare’s DiabetesDynamics American doctors have made much more significant changes in the way they prescribe Avandia when compared to doctors of Europe. Since the May article linking Avandia to a possible 42 percent increased risk of heart attack 70 percent of prescribing changes have been attributed to withdrawal, or basically doctors switching to another therapy. This contrasts sharply with data from the EU where withdrawal rates range from only 3 to 42 percent.

In the first half of this year 20 percent of doctors consultations resulted in therapy change, of which almost 85 percent were positive for Avandia, meaning a switch to Avandia, adding to existing regimens, or a new patients starting Avandia. In the third quarter, after the article was published, therapy changes flip-flopped with just under 70 percent being a change to switch away from Avandia. The EU did not follow this trend with the overwhelming majority of therapy changes remaining to be positive for Avandia.

The general perception here is that American doctors have a greater fear of possible cardiovascular risks than their European counterparts. In Spain, for instance no doctored mentioned cardiac risk as a reason for therapy change even after the concerns had been raised.

DiabetesDynamic says they will continue to monitor future trends in both the US and major European markets.

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