FDA calls for new warnings on labels of 3 asthma drugs

The FDA wants Novartis and GlaxoSmithKline to add new warnings that three of their asthma drugs may increase the chance of a severe asthmatic episode. The drugs are Advair, Serevent and Foradil. Regulators say these long-acting beta 2-adrenergic agonists should be used only when other drugs have proven ineffective. The drugs may reduce the number of episodes but may increase the severity of an episode when they occur. GSK disagreed with the FDA's conclusions but saw its shares slump on the news. And Schering-Plough, which produces the drug in the US, said it will discuss the agency's concerns with regulators.

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