PPH Lawyer

PPH – How Avandia Led the FDA to Bring Notice to this Condition

For many years, the condition known in the medical world as Primary Pulmonary Hypertension, or better known as “PPH,” was an extremely rare disease that was generally unknown to the general public. Statistically speaking, very few people in the United States were afflicted with this disease, which is one of the reasons that the general public was not aware of the dangers it presents.

However, when a one-time ‘wonder drug’ known as Avandia became an enormous seller around the United States and the rest of the world, the alleged problems that were linked to this drug led to the unfortunate rise in prominence and awareness of PPH. The reason is that Avandia was found to be statistically linked to the onset of PPH, and therefore the country became aware of yet another serious condition to be wary of when taking prescription medication for an entirely unrelated purpose.

Below is a look at how Avandia, and as a result the FDA, shed new light on PPH, and if you have been diagnosed with PPH as a result of taking Avandia or any other drug, contact a PPH lawyer at Williams Kherkher today to schedule a free initial consultation.

Avandia’s History

Avandia is a drug that’s manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), and it hit the market in 1999 with a high degree of promise. It was meant to help patients treat their type 2 diabetes in conjunction with a strict diet and exercise routine, and it generated billions of dollars in revenue for GSK.

However, during the first few years it was on the market, complaints began to arise among those taking Avandia regarding the side effects they believed it was causing. The most common side effect was PPH, which is a condition that causes the blood vessels in the lungs to narrow, thereby resulting in high blood pressure. High blood pressure is a condition that, if untreated or not treated properly, can lead to much more serious consequences, including heart failure and strokes.

The FDA

Ultimately, the number of complaints and studies published led to the involvement of the FDA. In February of 2007, the FDA published a statement that reported that GSK had sent a communication to medical providers warning of the potential dangers of Avandia and its link to physical injuries, including the tendency to suffer bone fractures in upper arm, hands and feet.

hree months later, the FDA issued another statement of warning that Avandia had also been linked to the development of PPH, the condition in question here, and the potential for PPH to lead to heart failure, debilitation and death.

If you suffer from PPH, you do have legal rights and options. Contact a PPH lawyer at Williams Kherkher today to schedule a free initial consultation.