The Cleveland Clinic has found that while Avandia increases tthe risks of heart attack, stroke and death, its chief competitior Actos, lowers the risk of heart attack, stroke and death in patients who use Actos to manage diabetes.

The Clinic team utilizing a meta-analyis drawn from 19 clinical trials of the drug Actos found that it had a positive cardiovascular affect for diabetic patients. This is markedly different from their findings with respect to Avandia, where a subtantially increased risk of cardiac problems was noted.

The study has come out at time when the Avandia litigation is beginning to heat up. Despite a plethora of negative studies there has been no whispers of a possible Avandia settlement.