Recently, a U.S. Court of Appeals affirmed the settlement terms relating to American Home Products Corporation's Redux, Pondimin, and fen-phen diet drugs. The drugs have been linked to heart valve damage and primary pulmonary hypertension, both deadly disorders. The FDA recalled Redux, Pondimin, and fen-phen in 1997.
The company has set aside $12 billion to compensate victims of the drugs. A document, titled the settlement matrix, lists damages awarded to victims based on the type and severity of their injuries. American Home Products CEO, Robert Essner said in a statement "this is an important step in putting this matter behind us." Unfortunately, for many suffering from heart valve damage and primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH), settlements will not heal their physical and emotional wounds.