10/17/1999 – Fen-Phen Settlement on Shaky Ground

To our ICFDA Subscribers–

It was announced on Friday that American Home Products, maker of Redux
and Pondimin, is being sued by 11,000 plaintiffs. Now the majority
of those afflicted with heart and lung problems from the drug, 8,000
in all, say they are not interested in the proposed $3.75 billion
settlement offer.

Why should they be?

“I don’t know if there is an individual in the United States that would
qualify for $1.5 million under this settlement,” said Marc Bern, whose
New York City law firm represents 5,000 plaintiffs.

This case should serve as a warning to those companies now marketing
other SSRI medications which can have similar adverse effects in their
patient population. The users of these serotonergic medications
represent a much larger population than Fen-Phen users–now upwards
of 50 million individuals worldwide!

If this is the largest product liability suit to date, what might the
future bring?

For the full story, click on the link below.–Dr Ann Tracy, Executive
Director, ICFDA

Settlement on Shaky Ground
Thousands of Fen-Phen Users May Reject Offer

By Amy Westfeldt
The Associated Press

N E W A R K, N.J., Oct. 14 — Thousands of people suing American Home
Products Corp. for injuries allegedly suffered while taking the
fen-phen diet drug combination won’t participate in a proposed $3.75
billion settlement, threatening the resolution of one of the largest
product liability cases ever, lawyers say.

http://abcnews.go.com/sections/living/DailyNews/fenphen991014.html

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