GSK settles Avandia heart attack case before trial

GlaxoSmithKline settled a US federal court case alleging its Avandia diabetes drug led to the death of a man from a heart attack, which had been due to go to trial in front of a jury on Monday. The settlement in the case of James Burford also means other Avandia cases brought in Philadelphia by two plaintiff attorneys - Joseph Zonies and Thomas Cartmell - have been resolved, a company spokeswoman said.

She declined to give details of the settlement terms. Avandia was once Glaxo's second-biggest drug, with sales of $3 billion a year. In 2007, however, it was linked to heart attack risk in an influential study and its sales plummeted. Sales are expected to tumble to insignificant levels this year following major curbs on its use imposed by regulators and a decision by the company to stop promoting the medicine. GSK has taken hefty legal charges to allow for settlement of thousands of Avandia cases in the United States.