22/01/2010 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 21 January, the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) recommended that marketing authorisations for weight-loss medicines containing sibutramine be suspended. Analysis of the data from the SCOUT (Sibutramine Cardiovascular Outcome Trail) study revealed that patients treated with this product ran a higher risk of cardiovascular events. Since overweight and obese patients are already at a higher risk of cardiovascular events, the EMEA decided it would be better for doctors no longer to prescribe this product, and chemists are asked to stop dispensing it. Sibutramine is sold in the EU under the trade names Arifon, Ectiva, Lindaxa, Meissa, Meridia, Minimacin, Minimectil, Obesan, Sibutral, Sibutril, Siluton, Sitrane, Redoxade, Reductil, Zelixa and Zelium. (O.J./transl.rt)