Eisai Faces Ohio Woman’s Lawsuit Tying Diet Drug to Colon Cancer

Eisai Inc. and Arena Pharmaceuticals Inc. must face warning, warranty, and fraud claims in a woman’s suit alleging the withdrawn diet drug Belviq caused colon cancer, but Ohio law bars punitive damages, a federal court in the state said.

Christine Johnson took Belviq for several months in 2016 before her cancer was diagnosed that October.

Johnson may pursue claims that Eisai and Arena failed to warn that Belviq hadn’t been adequately tested for health risks, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio said Wednesday.

She provided enough detail to support claims under Ohio Products Liability Act alleging ...