Lawsuit Filed Against Fen-Phen Firms

Drug companies that make and sell two products widely used in combination as a weight-loss treatment were sued after a Mayo Clinic report linked the treatment to serious cardiovascular health risks. The suit, filed in U.S. District Court in San Francisco, names American Home Products Corp., SmithKline Beecham Inc., Medeva Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Richwood Pharmaceuticals Co., among others. American Home Products’ fenfluramine drug is often used in combination with another drug, phentermine, sold by a number of companies including Medeva, SmithKline Beecham and Rhone-Poulenc Rorer Inc. The suit, filed on behalf of people who had taken the drugs, alleges that the companies “purposefully downplayed and understated the health hazards and risks” associated with the drugs. The suit seeks certification as a class action and unspecified monetary damages. Researchers from the Mayo Clinic this week said they found evidence of unusual heart problems in 24 patients taking the drug combination. After the announcement, the Food and Drug Administration issued a statement warning about the use of the so-called fen-phen combination. There was no immediate comment from the drug companies named in the suit.