Sanofi faces U.S. lawsuit over failed obesity drug
NEW YORK, Nov 13 (Reuters) - Sanofi-Aventis SA (SASY.PA) faces a lawsuit alleging the French drugmaker misled investors about prospects for its obesity drug Acomplia, known as Zimulti in the United States.
Law firm Coughlin Stoia Geller Rudman & Robbins LLP said on Tuesday it had commenced action on behalf of an institutional investor in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
Acomplia had been touted as a potential blockbuster by Sanofi, the world's third largest drugmaker, but was rejected by a U.S. regulatory committee in June 2007.
The complaint charges that Sanofi statements about the drug were materially false and misleading because the company concealed data about the drug's propensity to cause depression.
(Reporting by Ben Hirschler)
((Editing by Richard Chang; ben.hirschler@reuters.com; +44 7771 575 829; Reuters Messaging: ben.hirschler.reuters.com@reuters.net)) Keywords: SANOFI LAWSUIT/
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