A diet pill manufactured by Abbott Laboratories (ABT) should be put off shelves, European regulatory authorities said on Thursday said. The statement comes after risks of stroke and heart attack were linked to the pill.

Sibutramine weight-loss products’ sales should be stopped immediately the European Medicines Agency said. This was stated after a study of 10,000 patients was conducted and risks of heart diseases were associated with the pill. In Europe these medicines are sold under the brand-names Reductil, Zelium, Reduxade and as Meridia in the U. S. and Reductil, Sibutral, Raductil and Ectiva outside the U. S.

Following the statements the shares of Abbott went down by 68 cents on Thursday.

European Commission will now review the agency’s statement.

Abbott spokesman Kurt Ebenhoch said, “The company respectfully disagrees with the European agency's recommendation to suspend the medicine.”

The U. S. Food and Drug Administration also stated that Meridia should not be used by patients with a history of heart disease.

These statements were passed following a study conducted on about 10,000 patients. It was found that 11.4 per cent people who took Meridia had a cardiovascular event. The results were compared with 10 per cent of patients who received a placebo. Participants of the study had heart disease or diabetes and also a cardiovascular risk factor.