Diet pill to be pulled out of US, Canada
Source: Agencies |
October 10, 2010, Sunday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
ABBOTT Laboratories said on Friday it will withdraw its diet pill Meridia in the United States and Canada after coming under pressure from health regulators who say the drug increases the risk of heart attack and stroke in patients with a history of heart disease.
Companies have struggled for decades to develop drugs that help people lose weight without dangerous side effects. The withdrawal of Meridia leaves just one prescription drug on the market for long-term weight loss - Roche's Xenical, which is not widely used. Several other generic drugs are approved for short-term weight loss, including phentermine.
Food and Drug Administration scientists said they requested the withdrawal because Meridia's risks were not outweighed by "the very modest weight loss that people achieve on this drug." On average, patients lost 2.27 kilograms with the drug.
Companies have struggled for decades to develop drugs that help people lose weight without dangerous side effects. The withdrawal of Meridia leaves just one prescription drug on the market for long-term weight loss - Roche's Xenical, which is not widely used. Several other generic drugs are approved for short-term weight loss, including phentermine.
Food and Drug Administration scientists said they requested the withdrawal because Meridia's risks were not outweighed by "the very modest weight loss that people achieve on this drug." On average, patients lost 2.27 kilograms with the drug.
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