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Meridia Timeline...
September 1996 - the FDA's Endocrinologic
and Metabolic Drugs Advisory Committee voted 5 to 4 against Meridia's
approval.
November 1997 - The FDA approves the sale of Meridia.
February 1998 - Meridia is introduced by Abbott Laboratories
into the U.S. Market.
January 2001 - The FDA demands that pharmaceutical companies
change their advertising and promotional material to more accurately
reflect the effectiveness of their products as proven in testing.
Specifically targeted was Abbott Laboratories, the manufacturers
of Meridia.
February 1998 to September 2001 - The FDA receives 397
reports of serious adverse reactions to Meridia, including 152
hospitalizations and 29 deaths.
March 2002 - The Italian Health Ministry suspends the
sale of Meridia following the deaths of two women being treated
by Meridia, triggering a European review of the Meridia diet drug.
- The first lawsuit on the behalf of a Meridia diet drug patient
is filed, naming Abbott Laboratories, BASF AG, BASF Corporation,
and Knoll Pharmaceutical Company as defendants. Knoll Pharmaceutical
Company, a unit of BASF, originally manufactured Meridia.
March 19 2002 - The consumer advocacy group Public Citizen
files a petition with the FDA requesting that Meridia be recalled.
May 22 2002 - The consumer advocacy group Public Citizen
calls on the US government to bring criminal charges against Abbott
Laboratories, the manufacturers of Meridia for allegedly withholding
information about adverse events and 8 patient deaths related
to Meridia. The allegations are based on an FDA inspection of
an Abbott plant in Illinois conducted in late March and early
April.
June 2002 - More lawsuits are filed against the manufacturers
of Meridia, including class action lawsuits.
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