Consumer Group Urges FDA to Ban Weight-Loss Drugs Alli, Xenical

The over-the-counter weight-loss drug Alli and its prescription form Xenical should be removed from the market immediately, consumer group Public Citizen April 14 said in a petition to the Food and Drug Administration.

Public Citizen said these drugs can damage the liver and have been associated with 47 cases of acute pancreatitis and 73 cases of kidney stones. Both drugs are forms of orlistat: Xenical, which is manufactured by Roche Pharmaceuticals, has 120 mg of orlistat; Alli, which is manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline, has 60 mg, the group said.

Also on April 14, GSK said it was selling Alli as one ...