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The government awards contracts to companies with histories of misconduct such as contract fraud and environmental, ethics, and labor violations. In the absence of a centralized federal database listing instances of misconduct, the Project On Government Oversight (POGO) is providing such data. We believe that it will lead to improved contracting decisions and public access to information about how the government spends hundreds of billions of taxpayer money each year on goods and services. Report an instance of misconduct »

GlaxoSmithKline

U.S. Senate Investigation of Avandia

Date: 07/12/2010 (Date of Senate Letter to FDA)

Misconduct Type: Health

Enforcement Agency: Congress

Contracting Party: None

Court Type: N/A

Amount: $0

Disposition: Investigative Finding

Synopsis: According to a Senate Finance Committee inquiry, GlaxoSmithKline, the manufacturer of the diabetes drug Avandia, failed to publish studies that found serious health risks associated with Avandia in a timely manner and actively promoted the drug despite the known safety concerns. Documents obtained by the committee showed that, as far back as 2000, GSK executives sought to downplay scientific findings which raised questions about Avandia’s safety. Additionally, the committee found Avandia was part of a “ghostwriting campaign,” a practice by which pharmaceutical companies disguise their role in publishing articles promoting their products in medical journals under the byline of purportedly independent doctors or scientists. In September 2010, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration severely restricted the sale of Avandia.