Now, Two Senators Want GSK's Avandia Pulled from the Market

When it comes to prescription drugs, people rely on government authorities to ensure their safety. Even doctors count on regulators to make proper decisions when approving drugs, assuming that those agencies will correctly weigh the risks and benefits and advise them about both. Which makes the story of GlaxoSmithKline's (GSK) diabetes drug Avandia all the more disturbing. In a 342-page report, two senators are questioning the drug's safety, renewing concerns that it increases the risk of heart attack, and challenging both regulators and the drugmaker. Avandia has been on the market since 1999, so episodes like this can shake the public's confidence in the whole process, regardless of who is to blame.