Robert E. Ratner, MD, gave the opening presentation at the Avandia review with little news to report: diabetes incidence is expected to increase in this country, blood sugar control is hard to achieve even when tightly monitored, and medical costs are expected to increase by about $60B by 2020. We already knew these things.

But what he stressed most in his presentation really struck me, even though it too seems to be something all of us know: "Our drug therapy isn't adequate," he said emphatically. Then, citing the impending incidence increase: "We need new therapies for type 2 diabetes."

Of course new therapies are needed -- on paper, the statement seems less than dynamic, but the urgency in his voice made me think twice. Perhaps it's the power of being here -- of hearing that 8 percent of our country is suffering, seeing all these people here (some of whom are patients) writing furiously while the presenters talk about drugs that affect them.

GlaxoSmithKline is up. Check back for updates.