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Supplement to Petition to Ban Sibutramine (Meridia)

Mark B. McClellan, M.D., Ph.D.
Commissioner
Food and Drug Administration
5600 Fishers Lane
Rockville, Md. 20857 

Dear Commissioner McClellan:

Public Citizen, a nationwide consumer organization with a membership of more than 125,000, wishes to supplement its March 19, 2002 petition [1] (docket number 02P-0120) which called for the banning of the dangerous prescription diet drug Meridia (sibutramine, Knoll Pharmaceuticals/Abbott) due to the rising number of cardiovascular events associated with the drug. In that petition, we cited 19 deaths from cardiovascular disease that had been reported to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from the time of sibutramine’s launch in February 1998 through the end of September 2001. Ten of the 19 cardiac deaths were in people 50 or younger, including three women under the age of 30. We have not as yet received a decision on our petition from the agency.

Since then, from reviewing subsequent FDA adverse event data, we have become aware of an additional 30 cardiovascular deaths in people using Meridia, for a total of 49 cardiovascular deaths. Twenty-seven of the 49 (68%) were in people less than 50 years old. There is no dispute that Meridia commonly causes large, sustained increases in blood pressure, a major risk factor for heart attacks and cardiac arrest, the causes of death in most patients who died after using the drug. In the clinical trials, compared to patients getting a placebo, an excess of 10% of Meridia users had a sustained increase in diastolic blood pressure of 10 mm Hg or more and 4% had a sustained increase in systolic pressure of 15 mm Hg or more at the commonly used 15 milligram dosage.[2]

Our new analysis of cardiovascular adverse events in the FDA database covers the 18-month period subsequent to our petition, i.e., from October 1, 2001 through March 31, 2003. We have also added an analysis of an adverse event not discussed in our original petition, fetal toxicity, and for that we cover the entire period for which we have information (February 1998 through March 2003).

This new analysis utilized the same search criteria as was used previously: we searched on the drug names of sibutramine, Meridia, or Reductil and required that these be listed as the Primary Suspect in the adverse reaction. We have found 30 more cardiovascular deaths reported in the latest 18-month period for a total (as of the end of March 2003) of at least 49 cardiovascular deaths where sibutramine was felt to be the primary suspect as cause of death. These deaths were due mainly to myocardial infarctions or cardiac arrests, including the case of a cardiac arrest in a 28-year-old woman. The new and worrisome category of adverse events relating to adverse effects on the fetus includes spontaneous abortions, stillbirths, and congenital malformations, including those of the heart and central nervous system. As is discussed later, some of these birth defects are consistent with those seen in animal studies with the drug.

Adverse Effects of Sibutramine on the Cardiovascular System

Cardiovascular adverse events, especially increases in blood pressure and pulse rate, were seen during the pre-approval controlled clinical trials and were such a source of worry that the Medical Officer,[3] the Team Leader,[4] as well as the Advisory Committee[5] assembled to review sibutramine all recommended against approval. They argued that the benefits did not outweigh the risks, and they have been, unfortunately, proved correct.

In our March 2002 petition, we analyzed the FDA reviews and the advisory committee transcript and concluded that sibutramine was not safe and should be banned. At that time, over the first 44 months of marketing, there were 19 cardiovascular deaths where sibutramine was the drug listed as the primary suspect. In our new analysis of the subsequent 18 months, there were an additional 30 cardiovascular deaths (Appendix Table 1). The addition of these 30 cardiovascular deaths in just 18 additional months compared to 19 in the first 44 months represents a significantly increased rate of reports to the FDA, especially noteworthy since the reporting of adverse reactions is usually higher during the first two or three years after marketing, whereas this latter 18-month period comes in the fourth and fifth years of marketing. Of the 25 deaths (out of 30) where ages were provided, 17 (68%) were in their 20s, 30s, or 40s. These are ages where such deaths are otherwise rare. Since adverse events are underreported, the number that have actually occurred in clinical practice is much higher than reflected in the FDA data.

In addition to the 30 cardiovascular deaths (since our petition of March 2002) there were at least 126 serious cardiovascular adverse events, 63 of which (50%) led to hospitalization (Appendix Table 2). These adverse events included increased blood pressure, arrhythmias, cardiac arrests, cardiac failures, and myocardial infarctions. Forty-six (37%) reports listed some form of arrhythmia.

When the 63 new reports of hospitalizations are added to the 61 reports of cardiovascular adverse events requiring hospitalization that occurred during the period covered in our original petition, there are (as of March 31, 2003) a total of 124 serious cardiovascular adverse events requiring hospitalization. These 124 hospitalizations are in addition to the 49 cardiovascular adverse events that resulted in death.

Adverse Effects of Sibutramine on the Fetus

ADVERSE EFFECTS SEEN IN TOXICOLOGY STUDIES

The FDA pharmacology reviewer reported cardiac anomalies in pups of treated rats and rabbits. In one rabbit study, there was stenosis or atresia of the pulmonary trunk or valve (narrowing or deformation of a particular cardiac valve).[6] A second rabbit study showed “a significant increase in the incidence of visceral and skeletal anomalies mainly an increased incidence . . . in deviations in the origin of small arteries from the aorta . . .” Stenosis of the aortic arch and interventricular septal defects were seen in pups of treated rats, in addition to increases in stillborn offspring. None of the control animals that did not get sibutramine had any of these cardiovascular birth defects.  In another rat study, pups from untreated females nursed by treated mothers tended to have lower body weights indicating a potential for transfer of drug to the breast milk and adverse effects as a result.[7]

ADVERSE EFFECTS SEEN IN POST-MARKETING REPORTS

Our analysis of the FDA Adverse Event Reports (AERS) database, from launch through March 2003, yielded 54 reports with the terms of “Complications of maternal exposure” or “Maternal drugs affecting fetus” where sibutramine was listed as the primary suspect drug. Since fetal harm is not mentioned in the label or in the medical literature, it was quite surprising to find so many reports, including four babies with cardiovascular birth defects including:

1) Bicuspid aortic valve with cardiac murmur;
2) cardiomegaly [large heart], congenital anomaly;
3) congenital heart disease;
4) ventricular hypoplasia (underdeveloped heart chamber) (Appendix Table 3). 

These clinical findings are of great concern because of the cardiovascular birth defects in two different animal species tested with the drug (see above section on toxicology studies).

In addition to the cardiovascular defects in infants, there are reports of spontaneous abortions, stillbirths, and congenital malformations including those of the central nervous system (hydrocephalus, Chiari malformation, brain neoplasm, spina bifida).

The label provides little indication of any specific potential harm to patients from taking sibutramine during pregnancy, simply stating:   “The use of Meridia during pregnancy is not recommended” and adds that, “Patients should be advised to notify their physician if they become pregnant or intend to become pregnant during therapy.” This wording could indicate to physicians and patients that sibutramine use during pregnancy was not a high concern since it is unaccompanied by any specific data. Nowhere in the list of post-marketing reports of adverse events in the label is there any mention of such harm nor could we find any reports in the medical literature.

Conclusions:

Prior to its approval, the FDA Medical Officer wisely warned of the dangers of sibutramine: “The extended use of Sibutramine as currently proposed by the Sponsor, I feel, may likely subject a significant portion of relatively healthy, overweight individuals to substantial risk for cardiovascular events.”[8] The Team Leader was also concerned about the increase in blood pressure, warning that, “Without some information allowing reasonably accurate identification of patients likely to develop substantial blood pressure elevations on this drug, it should be regarded as not approvable…. Benefits have not been shown to outweigh risks.”[9] Now, with at least 49 cardiovascular deaths reported, most among relatively young women and men, plus 124 people with cardiovascular adverse reactions serious enough to require hospitalization, it is even clearer that sibutramine should not continue to be marketed.

An additional reason to ban sibutramine is its effect on the developing fetus. The FDA pharmacology reviewer provided an early warning by citing cardiac malformations in the offspring of rats and rabbits treated with the drug during pregnancy (see above). Since sibutramine was marketed, there has been a continuing series of reports of fetal harm including reports of four babies born with cardiovascular abnormalities.

It was the hope of FDA management that blood pressure screening before drug treatment followed by monitoring for the first weeks of use could ensure the safe use of sibutramine; this provided the rationale that led to its approval.[10] However, the steadily increasing numbers of cardiovascular deaths and serious cardiovascular adverse events being reported to the FDA clearly do not support that supposition. The additional harm being done to pregnant women and their offspring is an additional significant source of concern.

We again strongly urge that sibutramine should be banned: the adverse events are serious, the number of victims is rising rapidly, and the efficacy is minimal. At the time of the drug’s approval, it was announced that the average weight loss in obese people taking the drug for one year–beyond the weight loss in those getting a placebo–was only 6 1/2 pounds in the group taking 10 mg of the drug.[11]

We do not advocate labeling changes for minimizing this drug’s risk since such changes have not been shown to be helpful in reducing drug risk with other drugs. The FDA’s Drug Risk Assessment Group, along with individuals from medical schools and health care organizations, have analyzed the consequences of post-marketing label changes and have clearly shown that black-box warnings and “Dear Health Care Professional” letters had little or no beneficial effect in reducing the risk of two drugs studied: troglitazone and cisapride.[12],[13] Both later had to be removed from the market. As a result, it seems extremely unlikely that “Dear Doctor” letters or label changes would stem the number and severity of the adverse events occurring with sibutramine, especially when they are in conflict with aggressive marketing practices, including direct to consumer advertising. There is no justification in continuing to market a drug that provides minimal weight reduction while increasing the likelihood of injury and death.

Sincerely,

Elizabeth Barbehenn, Ph.D.
Research Analyst

Peter Lurie, M.D., M.P.H.
Deputy Director

Sidney Wolfe, M.D.
Director
Public Citizen’s Health Research Group


APPENDIX

Table 1. Sibutramine-Associated Cardiac Deaths (10/01 through 3/03)

Age/sex

Adverse Event

28/F

Cardiac arrest

30/F

Myocardial Infarction

37/F

Cardio-respiratory arrest

37/F

Cardio-respiratory arrest

37/F

Cardiac arrest

39/F

Cardiac arrest; tachycardia

39/F

Cardiac arrest

40/F

Myocardial Infarction

40/M

Myocardial Infarction

42/F

Myocardial Infarction

43/M

Myocardial Infarction

43/M

Sudden death unexplained

45/M

Myocardial Infarction

47/M

Chest pain

48/M

Cardiomyopathy

48/M

Myocardial Infarction; palpitations

50/M

Myocardial Infarction

50/F

Cardiomegaly

50/M

Myocardial Infarction

51/M

Myocardial Infarction

61/F

Cardio-respiratory arrest

65/M

Myocardial Infarction

65/F

Ruptured cerebral aneurysm

66/F

Arrhythmia

67/F

Myocardial Infarction

67/M

Myocardial Infarction

  U/F

Arrhythmia

  U/F

Hypertension

  U/M

Myocardial Infarction

  U/F

Cardio-respiratory arrest

Table 2. Sibutramine-associated Cardiac Adverse Events (all outcomes excluding death) (10/01 through 3/03: chronological order)

Age/sex

Adverse Event

Outcome

31/M

Chest pain

Hospitalization

64/F

Myocarditis

Required intervention

42/M

Myocardial infarction

Required intervention

61/F

Arterial aneurysm

Hospitalization

54/F

Cerebral infarction

Hospitalization

U/F

Tachycardia; cardiac failure

Required intervention

55/M

Tachycardia; atrial fibrillation; cardiomyopathy

Life threatening

17/F

Intracranial pressure increased

Hospitalization

29/F

Hypertension

Hospitalization

69/F

Tachycardia;hypertension

Required intervention

48/F

Hypertension; tachycardia

Required intervention

40/F

Sinus tachycardia; pulmonary hypertension

Required intervention

62/F

Cardiac failure; pulmonary hypertension

Hospitalization

62/F

Cardiac disorder; chest pain

Hospitalization

31/F

Blood pressure increased; chest pain; pulmonary hypertension

Hospitalization

41/F

Heart rate increased; blood pressure increased

Required intervention

U/F

Arrhythmia; syncope

Required intervention

62/M

Hypertension aggravated

Hospitalization

U/F

Cardiac disorder

Hospitalization

68/M

Transient ischemic attack

Required intervention

57/F

Cardiomegaly; chest pain; arrhythmia

Hospitalization

47/M

Hypertension

Disability

U/F

Pulmonary hypertension

Hospitalization

50/F

Cardiac failure congestive

Required intervention

42/M

Chest pain

Required intervention

70/F

Cerebrovascular accident

Hospitalization

44/F

Arrhythmia; tachycardia; atrial flutter

Required intervention

39/M

Atrioventricular block; atrial flutter; atrial fibrillation

Hospitalization

34/F

Cerebrovascular accident

Hospitalization

35M

Hypertension

Hospitalization

27/F

Chest pain

Unknown

  U/F

Cerebrovascular acident

Other

31/F

Blood pressure increased

Hospitalization

56/F

Blood pressure increased; chest pain

Required intervention

31/F

Myocardial infarctionI

Hospitalization

47/F

Cardiac disorder; arrhythmia; blood pressure increased

Hospitalization

49/F

Sinus arrhythmia; cardiomyopathy; ventricular  tachycardia

Hospitalization

U/F

Arrhythmia; heart rate increased

Hospitalization

U/F

heart rate increased; blood pressure fluctuation

Required intervention

68/M

Cerebrovascular accident

Life-Threatening

29/F

Chest tightness

Required intervention

50/F

Heart rate increased; Blood pressure increased

Hospitalization

U/F

Cerebrovascular accident

Other

42/M

Blood pressure increased

Other

50/F

Chest pain; blood pressure increased; palpitations

Hospitalization

52/F

Transient ischemic attack

Other

51/F

Tachycardia

Life-Threatening

13/M

QT prolonged

Other

32/F

Hypertension

Hospitalization

35/F

Pulmonary hypertension primary

Hospitalization

46/M

Blood pressure increased

Hospitalization

53/M

Ventricular extrasystoles

Other

U/F

Cardiac arrest

Required intervention

32/F

Cardiac murmur; palpitations

Other

U/U

Cardiac failure

Hospitalization

48/F

BP increased; tachycardia

 

44/M

Chest pain; heart rate irregular

Required Intervention

60/M

Cardiac arrest; acute myocardial infarction

Hospitalization

42/F

Chest discomfort; ECG PR shortened

Life threatening

38/F

Cardiac failure; ventricular fibrillation

Hospitalization

47/M

Chest pain; vasovagal attack

Hospitalization

47/F

Hypertension; hemorrhagic stroke

Hospitalization

59/F

Cardiac failure

Required Intervention

47/F

Palpitations; collapse

Hospitalization

U/F

Diastolic dysfunction; hypertension; tachycardia

Required Intervention

44/F

Cerebrovascular accident hypertension

Hospitalization

73/F

Vasovagal attack

Required Intervention

48/F

Cerebral infarction

Hospitalization

63/F

Pulmonary hypertension; aortic valve stenosis; cardiomegaly

Hospitalization

48/M

Chest pressure sensation; ventricular extrasystoles

Hospitalization

38/F

Cardiac arrest

Hospitalization

53/F

Acute myocardial infarction; cerebral infarction

Hospitalization

U/M

Cardiac failure congestive

Hospitalization

39/F

Accelerated idioventricular rhythm

Hospitalization

41/M

Chest pain; ST-T ECG change

Hospitalization

63/F

Left ventricular hypertrophy

Required Intervention

42/M

Hypertension

Life threatening

38/F

Cardiac failure

Hospitalization

U/M

Arrhythmia; ejection fraction decreased

Required Intervention

63/F

Pulmonary hypertension; cardiac disorder

Hospitalization

29/U

Hypertension

Required Intervention

37/F

Blood pressure increased

Required Intervention

47/F

Blood pressure increased; Cerebral hemorrhage

Hospitalization

62/F

Cardiac failure; cardiomyopathy; tachycardia

Required Intervention

54/M

Syncope

Required Intervention

35/F

ECG: P wave abnormal; Palpitations

Required Intervention

51/F

Cardiac murmur; cardiomyopathy

Required Intervention

48/F

ECG abnormal; tachycardia

Required Intervention

U/M

Atrial tachycardia

Required Intervention

U/F

Atrial tachycardia

Required Intervention

41/F

Blood pressure fluctuation

Hospitalization

U/F

Arrhythmia

Life threatening

U/F

Cerebrovascular accident; stroke

Hospitalization

34/F

Blood pressure increased; palpitations

Hospitalization

48/F

Hypertension; tachycardia

Required Intervention

37/F

Hypertension

Life threatening

42/F

Chest pain; dizziness

Hospitalization

42/M

Hypertensive crisis

Required Intervention

53/U

Atrial fibrillation; palpitations

Hospitalization

41/M

Myocardial Infarction

Hospitalization

49/M

Atrial fibrillation

Hospitalization

35/F

ECG: P wave abnormal; palpitations

Required Intervention

42/M

Hypertension

Required Intervention

22/F

Chest pain; dizziness

Hospitalization

42/M

Hypertension

Required Intervention

61/F

Arrhythmia; chest pain

Hospitalization

U/F

Chest pain; cerebrovascular accident; tachycardia

Hospitalization

54/F

Cerebral infarction; tachycardia

Hospitalization

U/F

Heart rate increased

Required Intervention

54/F

Cerebral infarction; tachycardia

Hospitalization

22/F

Chest pain; dizziness

Hospitalization

40/F

Heart rate increased

Required Intervention

U/M

Tachycardia

Required Intervention

34/F

Blood pressure increased; palpitations

Hospitalization

U/F

Chest tightness; clamminess

Required Intervention

34/F

Transient ischemic attack

Hospitalization

40/F

ECG abnormal; chest pain; heart rate increased

Hospitalization

30/F

Ischemia

Required Intervention

U/F

Supraventricular tachycardia

Hospitalization

45/F

Hypertension

Required Intervention

55/M

Cardiovascular disorder

Required Intervention

40/F

Chest tightness

Hospitalization

60/F

Myocardial ischemia

Life threatening

58/M

Chest pain

Hospitalization

38/F

Chest pain; dyspnea

Required Intervention

66/F

Atrial fibrillation; right ventricular failure

Hospitalization

 

Table 3.  Effects on fetus in patients using sibutramine (Meridia) February  1998 through March 2003 (chronological order)

Maternal Age/ Fetal or Infant Sex

Adverse Event

Outcome

43/F

Premature baby

Hospitalization

U/F

Abortion missed

Other

U/M

Aortic valve stenosis; disorder neonatal

Congenital anomaly; Hospitalization

31/F

Abortion spontaneous

Other

21/F

Stillbirth; omphalitis

Other

33/F

Intra-uterine death; abortion spontaneous

Other

30/F

Musculoskelet-al disorder; abortion induced

Other

34/F

Abortion spontaneous

Other

U/M

Death neonatal; congenital heart disease

Death

U/M

Erb’s palsy; shoulder dystocia; delayed delivery

Disability

U/M

Pre-auricular sinus congenital; C-section

Congenital anomaly

U/F

Ovarian disorder

Other

30/F

Abortion spontaneous

Other

32/F

Vaginal hemorrhage; abortion threatened

Other

30/F

Abortion spontaneous; cervical incompetence

Other

39/F

Abortion induced

Required Intervention

32/F

Ultrasound antenatal screen abnormal; aborted pregnancy

Required Intervention

30/F

Unwanted pregnancy; abortion induced

Required Intervention

U/M

Congenital foot malformation; eye deformity; intrauterine death; hydrocephalus

Death; congenital anomaly

29/F

Congenital hydroce-phalus; abortion induced

Unknown

U/U

Down’s syndrome; abortion induced

Death congenital anomaly

37/F

Neonatal disorder; premature baby

Hospitalization

U/F

Pulmonary edema neonatal; sleep apnea syndrome

Hospitalization

U/F

Ventricular hypoplasia

Death; congenital anomaly

12/U

Fetal growth retardation; premature baby

Death

32/F

Premature baby; pre-eclampsia

Hospitalization

U/U

Premature baby; death

Death

38/F

Spontaneous abortion

Required Intervention

39/F

Spontaneous abortion

Other

29/F

Congenital hydro-cephalus; chromosome abnormality

Required Intervention

U/M

Congenital foot malformation; hydroce-phalus; syndactyly

Death

37/F

Fetal disorder; abortion induced

Required Intervention

37/F

Down’s syndrome; abortion induced

Required Intervention

U/F

Chiari malformation; nervous system anomaly; spina bifada; Abortion induced

Death

38/F

Abortion spontaneous

Required Intervention

U/U

Fetal growth retardation; hypertension

Death

39/F

Abortion spontaneous

Required Intervention

28/F

Abortion induced; congenital heart disease

Required Intervention

U/U

Cardiomegaly; congenital abnormality

Death

40/F

Abortion spontaneous

Required Intervention

38/F

Neonatal apneic attack; testicular disorder; premature baby

Hospitalization

39/F

Abortion induced

Required Intervention

25/F

Unknown

Required Intervention

31/F

Unintended pregnancy

Required Intervention

U/M

Cardiac murmur; hemoglobin decreased; premature baby

Hospitalization

U/M

Bicuspid aortic valve; cardiac murmur; premature baby

Hospitalization

21/F

Unintended pregnancy

Required Intervention

U/U

Cerebellar tumor

Congenital abnormality

U/F

Congenital abnormality; brain neoplasm; abortion induced

Required Intervention

U/F

Pyelocal-iectasis; C-section

Congenital anomaly

U/M

Renal agenesis

Required Intervention

21/F

Chiari malformation; abortion induced

Unknown

U/U

Chiari malformation; abortion induced

Congenital anomaly


[1] https://www.citizen.org/HRG1613

[2] Current FDA-approved labeling for Meridia, in effect since May, 2002. (https://www.citizen.org/sites/default/files/meridia.pdf) accessed 8/30/03)

[4] Ibid.

[5] Food and Drug Administration Endocrinologic and Metabolic Drugs Advisory Committee, September 26, 1996.

[6] David Hertig, FDA Pharmacology Review, October 3, 1996; p.65.

[7] Ibid; p.36.

[8] Eric Colman, M.D., Medical Officer, Memo, October 11, 1996.

[9] Gloria Troendle, M.D., Team Leader Review, October 11, 1996.

[10] Solomon Sobel, M.D., Division Director, Memo, November 18, 1997.

[11] FDA Approves Sibutramine to Treat Obesity. FDA Talk Paper. November 24, 1997. At a dose of 15 mg, the average weight loss, beyond placebo, was only 10 1/2 pounds.

[12] Graham DJ, Drinkard CR, Shatin D, et al. Liver enzyme monitoring in patients treated with troglitazone. JAMA 2001;286:831-833.

[13] Smalley W, Shatin D, Wysowski DK, et al. Contraindicated use of cisapride. JAMA 2000;284:3036-3039.