Rosiglitazone

Rosiglitazone (trade name Avandia, GlaxoSmithKline) is an antidiabetic drug in the thiazolidinedione class of drugs. It works as an insulin sensitizer, by binding to the PPAR receptors in fat cells and making the cells more responsive to insulin. It is marketed by the pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) as a stand-alone drug or in combination with metformin (trade name Avandamet) or with glimepiride (trade name Avandaryl). Annual sales peaked at approximately $2.5bn in 2006, but declined after the drug was found to increase risk of heart attacks. The drug's patent expires in 2012.