Notable Meridia Quotes

"For simply across-the-board use, I think that you can't endorse it, but for use in an appropriately screened populations of people, absolutely, but more information is really going to be needed." (CNN, 9-26-96)
-Dr. John Flack, FDA consultant after Meridia was sent back for more research in 1996

"We still have some concerns." (Detroit News, 11-29-97)
-FDA's Dr. James Bilstand at the time of the 1997 FDA approval of Meridia

"As we saw with Redux, there's a tremendous pent=up market in weight loss. I think- I hope the public has learned there is a danger in prescribing this to individuals who do not fit the criteria." (AP, 2-13-98)
-Morgan Downey, executive director of the American Obesity Association

"Based on 50 reports of adverse events during treatment, the Pharmaceutical Commission decided that the beneficial effects of the drug must be re-evaluated." (Yahoo, 3-7-02).
-Italy's Pharmaceutical Commission recommending the suspension of sibutramine

"The drug should have never been put on the market- the advisory committee and the physician in charge of the drug both recommended against approval. This is a mistake that is being corrected. The drug is just not going to survive much longer." (ABC News, 3-19-02)
-Sidney Wolfe, Public Citizen Director

"There is a 10- to 100- fold underreporting of adverse events. What gets reported to the FDA is just a tiny fraction of what is going on." (ABC News, 3-19-02)
-Sidney Wolfe, Public Citizen Director

"Not only does this drug contribute to major cardiovascular problems, but its effectiveness in lowering obesity is meager. The FDA is aware of this and must take it off of the market." (Public Citizen, 3-19-02)
-Sidney Wolfe, Public Citizen Director

"There is no evidence that this drug (Meridia) has prolonged the life of a single patient, or reduced the risks of strokes or heart attacks tied to obesity." (WebMD, 3-22-02)
-Sidney Wolfe, Public Citizen Director

"It is reckless and irresponsible to say that the drug risk is no lower than would be expected." (WebMD, 3-22-02)
-Sidney Wolfe, Public Citizen Director

"In the last year, the sales of it (Meridia) went up enormously…and as a result there were more problems, deaths, arythmias, cases of hypertension, and so forth." (CBC News, 3-28-02)
-Sidney Wolfe, Public Citizen Director

"This drug is going to be taken off the market" (WebMD, 3-22-02)
-Sidney Wolfe, Public Citizen Director

"We are very confident it won't be take from the market." (WebMD, 3-22-02)
-Eugene Sun, Abbott's VP of global drug development