Makers of the diabetes drug Avandia are under fire for failing to notify the Food and Drug Administration of its possible harmful side effects.

A recent report released by the Senate Finance committee found that GlaxoSmithKline hid negative trial results from the FDA for years.

Avandia was approved in 1999 to treat Type 2 Diabetes, yet the investigation revealed "as far back as 2000, internal e-mails show that GSK executives sought to downplay scientific findings, which raised questions about the safety [of the drug]."

An FDA panel is meeting with GSK leaders to decide what to do with the drug. They will vote Wednesday on whether to pull Avandia off store shelves.

Concern over the drug went public in 2007 when data from 42 clinical trials showed a 43 percent increase in risk of heart attack for patients taking Avandia.

Despite the negative reports, GSK executives have stood by the drug.

About two million Americans take Avandia. The drug is also known as rosiglitazone.