Meridia may boost health risks

Here's the story: Abbott's Meridia might boost health risks: EU :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Metro & Tri-State

Meridia, made by Lake County-based Abbott Laboratories, should be used with caution because of evidence the weight-loss pill may increase the risk of heart attack or stroke, the European Medicines Agency said.

The agency is reviewing data from the SCOUT trial, which followed almost 10,000 patients enrolled as long as six years, and assessing the implications for use of the drug, known by its chemical name sibutramine, the European Union agency said Friday.

"Abbott's ongoing evaluation of the SCOUT study data does not change our medical assessment of sibutramine's risk-benefit profile when used appropriately in the approved patient population," said Kurt Ebenhoch, a spokesman for Abbott in North Chicago.

The medicine, sold as Reductil outside the United States, is used for obese patients and in overweight patients who have risk factors such as type 2 diabetes, the London-based agency said.

Abbott's shares fell 20 cents to $53.38 Friday afternoon in New York Stock Exchange composite trading.

More on the subject: Group seeks Meridia ban -- themorningcall.com

A consumer group is petitioning the government to ban the weight loss pill Meridia because a recent study suggests it increases risk of heart attack, stroke and death.

A letter from Public Citizen calls on the Food and Drug Administration to pull Abbott Laboratories' drug from the U.S. market, where roughly a quarter-million people use it.

Preliminary results from a 10,000-patient study showed a slightly higher risk of heart-related problems in patients taking Meridia, also called sibutramine, compared with a dummy pill. Patients in the study were older than 55, overweight with a history of heart disease or diabetes.

Abbott said it has not reviewed Public Citizen's petition, but it said Meridia is only approved for patients who have no previous history of cardiovascular disease.

Well, health risks or not, I could use about 80 pounds worth of Meridia!