Diabetes Drug Linked to 500 Deaths in France
By wchung | 04 Nov, 2025
French health officials say the now-banned diabetes and weight loss drug Mediator may have been linked to the deaths of about 500 people.
France’s health products safety agency is advising users of the drug — the brand name for benflourex in France — from 2006 to 2009 to see their doctor to check for possible heart valve problems.
The agency said Tuesday that about 5 million people used Mediator starting in 1976.
The European Medicines Agency pulled benflourex from the market last year, saying it had little effect on diabetes and might lead to a dangerous thickening of heart valves.
In September, European regulators pulled blockbuster diabetes drug Avandia off the market because of alleged links to heart attacks.
PARIS (AP)
Asian American Success Stories
- The 130 Most Inspiring Asian Americans of All Time
- 12 Most Brilliant Asian Americans
- Greatest Asian American War Heroes
- Asian American Digital Pioneers
- New Asian American Imagemakers
- Asian American Innovators
- The 20 Most Inspiring Asian Sports Stars
- 5 Most Daring Asian Americans
- Surprising Superstars
- TV’s Hottest Asians
- 100 Greatest Asian American Entrepreneurs
- Asian American Wonder Women
- Greatest Asian American Rags-to-Riches Stories
- Notable Asian American Professionals