FDA panel: Two asthma drugs risky but Advair OK

By Lisa Richwine

ROCKVILLE, Maryland (Reuters) - GlaxoSmithKline Plc's widely prescribed drug Advair is safe enough for treating asthma but two lesser-used medicines are too risky, a U.S. advisory panel ruled on Thursday.

Evidence of asthma-related deaths and serious complications led the panel of experts to warn against continued use of Glaxo's Serevent and Novartis AG's Foradil for adults, adolescents and children with asthma.

AstraZeneca Plc's Symbicort also was deemed safe alongside Advair.

All of the inhaled drugs contain long-acting beta agonists, but Advair and Symbicort add a steroid, which the panel felt made the medicines less risky.

"It looks like use of LABAs alone is more dangerous," said consumer advocate Sidney Wolfe, director of Public Citizen's Health Research Group.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration will consider the recommendations as officials decide if the drugs should continue to be approved for treating asthma.

Patients should not stop taking any of their asthma medications without consulting a doctor, John Jenkins, head of the FDA's Office of New Drugs, advised after the meeting.

Glaxo shares rose 1.8 percent after the panel vote to close at $36.08 on the New York Stock Exchange.