The diabetes drug Avandia is in the news again because of allegations that the drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline misrepresented the safety of Avandia.

GlaxoSmithKline LLC announced a $90 million settlement to resolve allegations that the pharmaceutical company illegally marketed Avandia, according to an article in The Wall Street Journal. The settlement was announced shortly after 38 states, including the state of Illinois, filed claims on November 15 against GlaxoSmithKline LLC for alleged consumer fraud and deceptive marketing.

Lawyers with the Illinois Attorney General’s Office said in a complaint that GlaxoSmithKline misrepresented that Avandia had cardiovascular benefits when, in fact, it may increase cardiovascular risks, including risk of heart attacks.

Avandia is one of a newer generation of diabetes drugs called thiazolidinediones or TZDs. The drugs lower blood sugar levels by sensitizing cells to use insulin more efficiently.

The settlement is separate from a $3 billion settlement with the U.S. Justice Department last summer over allegations that GlaxoSmithKline failed to report important safety data to the Food and Drug Administration between 2001 and 2007.

In addition to the settlements with the states and federal governments, GlaxoSmithKline has faced thousands of consumer lawsuits claiming Avandia harmed patients’ health. The Driscoll Law Firm has represented a number of people in lawsuits filed against GlaxoSmithKline over Avandia.

Pharmaceutical companies have a legal obligation to market drugs that are safe and effective when used as directed. The drug maker should have shared its safety data with the FDA and warned consumers of the dangers of taking Avandia, including heart attacks and congestive heart failure, before patients started suffering serious harm. Patients who have been harmed by Avandia do have a legal right to seek compensation.