"Trial begins over Mediator drug blamed for hundreds of deaths in France," 23 Sep 2019

Some 2,600 plaintiffs are suing privately-owned Servier laboratories as well as the French drug regulator...and 12 other people. 

The Mediator drug was prescribed to 5 million people in France over 33 years until 2009, when it was finally recalled from the market.

The pills were developed to treat excess weight in Type 2 diabetes patients but were also widely prescribed as an appetite suppressant. It is believed to have caused between 500 and 2,100 related deaths.

The drug is suspected of causing heart and pulmonary failure...

Servier...has been charged with fraud for allegedly concealing the risks of Mediator....

Lawyers claim that Servier deliberately misled patients and has been accused of making at least one billion euros from the drug, while being aware of its dangers...

Servier has said it did not lie about the effects of the treatment and hopes to demonstrate it did not act against patient interests.

The company has paid out almost 132 million euros to victims and says it will continue to pay compensation...