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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Top obesity drug being withdrawn | Top obesity drug being withdrawn |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| A leading obesity drug is being withdrawn from use in the UK amid fears it increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes. | A leading obesity drug is being withdrawn from use in the UK amid fears it increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes. |
| The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency has told doctors to stop prescribing sibutramine and review its use in patients already taking it. | The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency has told doctors to stop prescribing sibutramine and review its use in patients already taking it. |
| The drug works by altering chemical messages to the brain which control feelings about food. | The drug works by altering chemical messages to the brain which control feelings about food. |
| The regulator says it has been used by 86,000 people in the past year. | The regulator says it has been used by 86,000 people in the past year. |
| While it is a common obesity drug, the most popular, orlistat, a pill which prevents fat absorption, is much more widely used and is taken by hundreds of thousands of people each year. | While it is a common obesity drug, the most popular, orlistat, a pill which prevents fat absorption, is much more widely used and is taken by hundreds of thousands of people each year. |
| Suspending | Suspending |
| The regulator acted after a review by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) recommended suspending its licence in Europe. | |
| This decision still has to be formally ratified by the European Commission. | This decision still has to be formally ratified by the European Commission. |
| But Dr June Raine, of the MHRA, said: "Evidence suggests that there is an increased risk of non-fatal heart attacks and strokes with this medicine that outweigh the benefits of weight loss, which is modest and may not be sustained in the long term after stopping treatment. | But Dr June Raine, of the MHRA, said: "Evidence suggests that there is an increased risk of non-fatal heart attacks and strokes with this medicine that outweigh the benefits of weight loss, which is modest and may not be sustained in the long term after stopping treatment. |
| "Prescribers are advised not to issue any new prescriptions and to review the treatment of patients taking the drug. | "Prescribers are advised not to issue any new prescriptions and to review the treatment of patients taking the drug. |
| "Pharmacists are asked to cease dispensing the medicine. | "Pharmacists are asked to cease dispensing the medicine. |
| "People who are currently taking sibutramine are advised to make a routine appointment with their doctor to discuss alternative measures to lose weight. There are no health implications if people wish to stop treatment before seeing their doctor." | "People who are currently taking sibutramine are advised to make a routine appointment with their doctor to discuss alternative measures to lose weight. There are no health implications if people wish to stop treatment before seeing their doctor." |
| Speaking after the EMA's decision, Eugene Sun, from Abbott which makes sibutramine, said: "We believe there are many patients who benefit from sibutramine and respectfully disagree with the... recommendation to suspend the medicine. | |
| "However, we will act promptly to comply with the committee's recommendation." |