GlaxoSmithKline has denied claims that it has settled “thousands” of the lawsuits brought against the company by people who had heart attacks and strokes while taking the anti-diabetic drug rosiglitazone (Avandia).

A company spokeswoman told the BMJ that many settlements, as reported by Reuters (www.reuters.com/article/idUSLDE65029L20100601), which later issued an update, and by other media outlets, did not happen.

The spokeswoman said that there had been “erroneous media reports on the pending litigation,” and the truth was that the company had settled only one case set for trial in Philadelphia on 1 June. Terms of the settlement were not disclosed.

An estimated 13 000 cases are …