April 11, 2006
Consumer Group Wants FDA to Remove Xenical
Posted at April 11, 2006 6:58 AM in Dangerous Drugs
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A consumer watchdog group is petitioning the Food and Drug Administration to remove the prescription obesity drug Xenical (orlistat) from the market.
Public Citizen says the drug may lead to a higher risk of aberrant crypt foci (ACF), which is believed to be a factor in colon cancer.
The group says data from the manufacturer of orlistat, Roche Pharmaceuticals, and recent studies show the drug causes ACF in rats.
HealthDay News reports that Public Citizen is concerned that the FDA will approve over-the-counter sales of the drug in the U.S.
