30% of Fen Phen takers may have problems

A study by the Mayo Clinic, for the US Federal Drug Administration, estimates up to 30% of users of the Fen Phen diet regimen, or of Redux, may have heart valve abnormalities even without symptoms of heart disease. Around 6mn Americans are believed to have these before American Home Products took the drugs off the market in 1997. American Home Products has already agreed to pay up to US$3.75bn to settle lawsuits.