France: Trial to begin on drug scandal that caused 2,000 deaths

According to reports, a watershed trial is set to begin in France next week to decide on one of country's biggest pharma companies scandals examining wher pharma company behind a weight-loss pill thought to have sparked dely side-effects concealed risks associated with it. accusations in case vary from deceit to manslaughter which under French Law can result in fines and jail terms. 

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drug in question

As per reports, Private entity Servier, regulator nce Nationale de Securite du medicament (ANSM) and 21 defendants will be up against more than 2,600 plaintiffs who feel  brand intentionally misguided patients for deces, assisted by lax behaviour of authorities. weight-loss pill case h caused anger in France where authorities have said, as per reports, that around five million patients were in contact with pill kwn as Mediator before it was pulled off shelves in year 2010, resulting somewhere around 500 and 2,000 related deaths. Questions related to drug will be asked in trial as to why pill was in market when re were allegations that it resulted in heart failure. trial shall last for about seven months. 

company and drug in question, Servier's amphetamine-derived drug was instituted to cure an increase in weight which is common with -2 diabetes sufferers but was also prescribed widely as a hunger suppressor. Reportedly, many countries like Spain and Italy have outlawed drug in early 2000s. Mediator, whose active substance is called benfluorex, was close in structure to fenfluramine, ar appetite suppressant sold by American Home Products, later kwn as Wyeth and w part of Pfizer. That drug, sold along with phentermine in a combination kwn as fen-phen, was also connected to pulmonary hypertension and heart valve dysfunction, resulting in it being pulled off markets in 1997 along with thousands of legal claims of health issues and deaths.

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Indictment details

As per reports, 677-p French indictment has magistrate ting that Servier from 1970s kwingly hid medication's true attributes and did t reveal health studies critical of product proving a long-term fraud. Lawyer for 250 petitioners, Mr Charles Joesph-Oudin has reportedly said that: fact that trial is taking place is a win for victims of drug. Meanwhile, Servier has stated that it has t lied about effects of drug medication and is willing to showcase that it has t acted against patients' larger interest.  

Defendants react

As per reports, Servier has recompensated out almost 132 million euros or $146 million to patients and victims and said that it will continue to do same. Lawyer for Servier Mr. Francois de Castro has said that re is a stream of events shedding light as to how all this took place. trial will also explore role of authorities and regulators after a French investigation revealed industry regulator was lax in acting and was too close to pharma companies. ANSM also said that it will cooperate with trial and is w complying with even stricter rules.

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