heart attack risk

When Merck halted a late-stage study of its potential clot-preventing drug vorapaxar in stroke victims last week, it didn't explain why. Now, the company has confirmed it stopped the study after concerns that the drug increased the risk of bleeding in some patients.

GlaxoSmithKline diabetes drug Avandia has been found to have increased heart attack risk compared to similar medication. But a majority of the Food and Drug Administration's panel of outside experts have voted to keep the drug on the market -- though new restrictions are likely.