Abbott Sued Over Diet Drug Meridia - Chicago Tribune - March 27, 2002

Abbott Sued Over Diet Drug Meridia
From Tribune staff, wire reports
Chicago Tribune
March 27, 2002

A Chicago law firm on Tuesday sued Abbott Laboratories and two other drug companies, alleging the North Chicago-based company's diet drug Meridia is dangerous and should be pulled from the market. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Chicago, comes after consumer watchdog Public Citizen last week asked the Food and Drug Administration to withdraw Meridia from the market, citing 29 patient deaths and more than 400 adverse patient reactions since the drug was launched four years ago. Abbott, the maker and primary seller of the drug, said it had not seen the lawsuit, but a company spokeswoman said Meridia is safe and effective, citing the drug's use in more than 9 million patients around the world. The suit also names German-based BASF AG, which owned Meridia before Abbott bought BASF's pharmaceutical unit last year, and British-based GlaxoSmithKline PLC, which has certain marketing rights. The lawsuit, which seeks class-action status, was filed by Kenneth Moll and Associates of Chicago on behalf of two women who said they suffered side effects that included chest pains and dizziness.