According to a recent report, a U. S advisory panel has approved the marketing of the controversial drug Avandia.

The drug has recently been in the news for all the wrong reasons as research indicated the drug had an effect on the heart.

GlaxoSmithKline is happy with the decision but the shares of the firm seem to have plummeted. Also, the patients are in a dilemma over whether to use the drug or not.

Sources have revealed that among the 33 experts in the panel, 22 had voted against the drug. They were of the opinion that either the marketing of the drug should be restricted or banned completely.

Betsy Carlisle, Clinical Pharmacist at Seton Medical Center, is of the view that the patients should continue with the use of the drug only after taking advice from their physicians.

This year GlaxoSmithKline made 10% profits due to the sale of the drug while next year the contribution is estimated to be only 3.1%. Also, within two years the U. S. patent of Avandia will expire.

Glaxo will launch some new drugs in the coming time, but experts are of the view that the profits from them will be nowhere close to Avandia. Therefore, the biggest challenge that lies ahead of the Company is to make another drug which surpasses the sales of Avandia.