| GlaxoSmithKline’s own study raised serious concerns about its asthma medication Serevent, generic name salmeterol xinafoate. Serevent is an aerosol spray intended to relax muscles around the airways to the lungs and relieve asthma symptoms. GlaxoSmithKline’s study showed that Serevent sometimes has the opposite effect. The muscles around the airways tighten and the inability to breathe can cause death.
GlaxoSmithKline began the Salmeterol Multi-center Asthma Research Trial, called the SMART study, in 1996. GlaxoSmithKline had agreed with the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) to conduct the study to test the safety of Serevent. The study showed a greater rate of adverse events, including death, in African-American using Serevent than in Caucasians. The FDA analyzed the study results in 2004 and found a statistically significant increase in three events: asthma-related deaths, respiratory-related deaths, and combined asthma-related deaths or life-threatening experiences.
Suffered harm from Serevent? You may have a lawsuit. Click here, for a top rated law firm to evaluate your legal rights.
The drug is now sold with a Serevent warning for asthma-related side effects and is recommended for use only as a second drug to treat asthma when the first drug is insufficient or a heath care provider decides that two drugs are needed. The Serevent Medication Guide states that Serevent should never be the only drug prescribed to treat asthma.
Check out the following articles for more information about Serevent, filing a Serevent lawsuit and finding a Serevent attorney.
Suffered harm from Serevent? You may have a lawsuit. Click here, for a top rated law firm to evaluate your legal rights.
| 
State Law Center | Legal Links | Site Map | Privacy Policy | Media | About Us | Contact Us