FDA panel recommends keeping diabetes drug Avandia on the market

GlaxoSmithKline's diabetes drug Avandia should remain on the market but with new restrictions due to possible heart risks, says a federal panel of health experts.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisers voted 20-12 to keep the medicine available -- 10 panelists also recommended limiting who can get and prescribe the drug. The FDA isn't required to follow the advice of its panels, but it often does. Once a drug that brought in billions in sales annually, Avandia's market share has plummeted in recent years after data showed a possible increase risk of heart attacks.