GlaxoSmithKline's diabetes medicine Avandia failed to significantly reduce progression of plaque build up in coronary arteries in a clinical trial presented at a major heart meeting on Wednesday.
A positive outcome would have been welcome news for Glaxo as Avandia has been under a cloud since an analysis of past clinical studies appeared to find increased risk of heart attack not seen with similar diabetes medicines.
Sales of the drug fell 23 percent in the third quarter to $314 million and Glaxo was forced to defend the drug again last month amid charges from a public advocacy group that Avandia had caused more than a dozen cases of liver failure.
The new clinical trial of 672 patients with type 2 diabetes and heart disease compared Avandia's impact on atherosclerosis -- or buildup of fatty plaque in the arteries -- with that of a much older, generically available diabetes medicine called glipizide.
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