French prosecutors appeal for higher fines in weight-loss drug case

Servier had no immediate comment on the appeal. France's health ministry said that at least 500 people died of heart valve problems in the country because of exposure to the active ingredient in Mediator, which was withdrawn from sale in 2009.

French prosecutors said on Tuesday they were seeking higher fines in a partial appeal lodged against a Paris court's ruling on drugmaker Servier over its weight-loss pill Mediator. A Paris court last week found Servier guilty of manslaughter and deception and imposed a fine of 2.7 million euros ($3.2 million) on the company.

The prosecutors' office said in a statement that it had appealed the court's decision to drop a charge of fraud. Servier had no immediate comment on the appeal.

France's health ministry said that at least 500 people died of heart valve problems in the country because of exposure to the active ingredient in Mediator, which was withdrawn from sale in 2009. ($1 = 0.8440 euros)