Servier faces lawsuit
November 26, 2010
PHARMACEUTICAL giant Servier
is facing a costly legal battle in
France, over the sale of its weight
loss drug Mediator (Benfluorex
Hydrochloride).
Despite having been taken off
the market in 2005 by Spain and
Italy due to growing concerns over
its ability to cause heart damage,
as well as severe adverse reaction
notices within France itself,
Mediator, said to aid obese and
diabetic patients lose weight, was
sold in France from 1976, up until
its withdrawal in 2009 - after the
deaths of 500 patients and 3,500
patient hospital admissions.
Adverse reactions to the drug
ranged from breathlessness to
severe heart valve problems,
resulting in open heart surgery.
The drug has never been
approved for use in the US and UK.
In addition to looking down the
barrel of a criminal lawsuit
launched by hundreds of former
Mediator users (with charges
including negligence and
involuntary manslaughter), Servier,
is also facing the prospect of a full
scale public inquiry, as is the
French health regulatory body.
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