Group Urges Ban of Aventis Arthritis Drug
Aventis’ rheumatoid arthritis drug Arava should be withdrawn from the U.S. market because it has been linked to severe liver problems and deaths, consumer group Public Citizen said.
Arava has been sold in the U.S. since September 1998. Food and Drug Administration records link Arava to at least 130 cases of severe liver toxicity and 12 deaths, Public Citizen said.
Aventis hasn’t had time to go over Public Citizen’s petition, a spokeswoman said. About 200,000 patients worldwide have been treated with Arava. Sales of the drug were about $225 million last year.
American depositary receipts of Aventis, based in Strasbourg, France, rose 29 cents to $68.75 on the NYSE.
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