The Medicines Control Agency has reinstated the licences for the anorectic drug phentermine (Duromine, Ionamin).
The decision to withdraw phentermine was made by the European Commission earlier this year (PJ, April 15, p572). Following a challenge to this decision, the European Court has instructed the Commission to suspend the withdrawal until the Court reaches a final decision.
The Committee on Safety of Medicines has advised that there are no major public health concerns in relation to phentermine products remaining on the UK market.
Now that the ban is lifted, phentermine is set to become available again. A spokesman for Cambridge Healthcare Supplies, the manufacturer of Ionamin, told The Journal on August 16 that it would be relaunching the product. It had been available on a named patient basis since the Commission's ruling in April. However, the manufacturer of Duromine, 3M Health Care, told The Journal on August 15 that while the company was pleased with the decision, it was not planning to re-enter the UK market for commercial reasons.