Public Citizen wants withdrawal of diabetes drug

WASHINGTON - April 19, 2012 (WPVI) -- A consumer advocacy group is calling on government regulators to withdraw a diabetes drug from Novo Nordisk, saying the injectable medication raises the risk of thyroid cancer, pancreatitis and kidney failure.

Public Citizen is sending a petition to the Food and Drug Administration saying the risks of Victoza far outweigh its benefits as a diabetes drug, a crowded field that includes nearly a dozen similar medications.

Citing internal agency documents, the group notes that FDA approved the drug in 2010 against the recommendation of three staff scientists.

Any citizen or group can petition the FDA to remove a product from the market based on safety, economic or environmental reasons. The FDA often takes months or even years to render a decision on such requests.

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prescriptions, diabetes, healthcheck

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