Fen-Phen Drug Maker Settles 4 L.A. Suits, Lawyer Says

Plaintiffs in four Los Angeles County fen-phen diet-drug lawsuits that were to begin separate trials Monday have reached out-of-court settlements with drug maker American Home Products Corp., an attorney for other plaintiffs told Reuters.

Paul Rheingold, a New York attorney representing hundreds of former fen-phen users, said he had been informed by authoritative sources that American Home had settled the four cases for undisclosed terms.

Rheingold added that all four Los Angeles County cases involved fen-phen cocktail users who developed primary pulmonary hypertension.

American Home is facing at least 4,100 lawsuits nationwide from people who used its Pondimin (fenfluramine) and Redux (dexfenfluramine) before the drugs were recalled in 1997 when studies surfaced indicating some users had developed heart valve problems and primary pulmonary hypertension. American Home spokesman Doug Petkus told Reuters he was unable to discuss ongoing fen-phen litigation.