Image 1: Reductil 15mg.

The Irish Medicines Board (IMB) has today issued a statement recalling Reductil (Sibitramine) from the Irish market. In line with the European Medicines Agency (EMA) recommendation, the IMB have concluded that the risks of sibutramine-containing medicines outweigh their benefits.

The decision comes on the back of recent results from the Sibutramine Cardiovascular OUTcomes (SCOUT) trial, which showed an increased risk of serious cardiovascular events such as heart attack or stroke in patients with cardiovascular disease treated with this medicine. As obesity is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, the risk is also considered to be applicable to all patients using the drug.

Image 1: alli 84s.

Next week will see the biggest European consumer healthcare launch of 2009. On Tuesday 21^st of April alli, the new weight loss drug, will be launched in the EU markets. As a lower dose version of the prescription only medicine Xenical, alli contains the same active ingredient orlistat, but at 60 mg it’s only half of its strength. alli will be made available from pharmacies for overweight adults (18 years and over) with a BMI of at least 28.