Kenneth B. Moll & Associates, Ltd. are Investigating Claims of Deaths and Serious Injuries as a Result of the Potentially Deadly Diet Drug Meridia Which is Manufactured by Abbott Laboratories and Knoll Pharmaceuticals

Business Wire, March 20, 2002

Business Editors/Legal Writers

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 20, 2002

Kenneth B. Moll & Associates, Ltd. announce that they are investigating claims that the diet drug Meridia(R) (sibutramine hydrochloride monohydrate), manufactured by Abbott Laboratories and Knoll Pharmaceuticals, has caused almost 30 deaths world wide. It is estimated that over 8.6 million people in 70 countries have used Meridia. On March 19, 2002, Public Citizen petitioned the Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") to remove Meridia from the market. According to the petition, there have been almost 400 serious adverse reactions reported to the FDA since Meridia was first marketed in February, 1998, through September, 2001. These serious reactions included almost 30 deaths, over 150 patients hospitalized and almost 150 patients with arrhythmia. Of the almost 30 deaths, 19 died of cardiovascular causes including 10 people under the age of 50, three of which were women under the age of 30.

On March 8, 2002, the Italian Health Ministry suspended the sale of Meridia (a/k/a Reductil, Reduxade and Ectiva) following 50 reports of adverse events. According to British Department of Health, over 200 patients taking Meridia reported adverse reactions, including 2 deaths. In December, 2001, Britain's Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin warned that Meridia had limited benefits and unwanted side effects. French drug regulators have also reported receiving almost 100 cases of side effects.

According to Abbott, since the first clinical trials began, there have been 34 deaths reported worldwide in patients using Meridia, 28 in the United States, 2 in Italy, 2 in Britain, 1 in South Africa and 1 in Switzerland.

The FDA estimates that approximately 20,000 Meridia prescriptions are filled in the United States each week. In 1997, before receiving FDA approval, an FDA advisory committee voted 5-4 that the benefits of Meridia did not outweigh its risks. Meridia was reviewed by an FDA medical officer who recommended that it not be approved because research showed the potential for cardiac complications.

According to Kenneth Moll, "Meridia should never have been approved. The clinical tests clearly show that the risks of death and serious injuries greatly outweigh its minimal effectiveness."