A federal advisory panel was questioned in lieu of banning the recently developed weight-loss drug made by Abbott Laboratories, which has possible cause of heart attack in recent future.

It was strongly refuted by the Food and Drug Administration’s panel where almost eight of the 16 members asked to withdraw the drug. The harms associated with the drug might cause heart attacks and stroke in addition to minor weight loss.

Two conditions were brought forward before releasing the drug: releasing the box with a labeled warning, which clearly states about the major heart risks and to keep a tab on patients' blood pressure, pulse and body weight. The second being restriction of its usage, that too by the aid of specially trained doctors.

The FDA which had given a nod to Meridia in 1997 has been following the norms. This move claims the fate who is believed to produce $30 million merely via domestic sales this year, with the F.D.A., who will release the decision pertaining to the drug.