DEVELOPING STORY: Abbott Agrees to Pull Obesity Drug Off US Market

The Food and Drug Administration announced today that Meridia (sibutramine), a drug used for treating obesity, will be voluntarily removed from the U.S. market by its maker, Abbott Laboratories. The withdrawal is the result of clinical trial data indicating an association between use of Meridia and increased risk of heart attack and stroke. More information on this breaking story will be released at a press conference at  12:30 p.m. ET today.