Janssen to stop marketing Propulsid

Janssen, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), will stop marketing its Propulsid cisapride gastrointestinal stimulant to treat nighttime heartburn caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). According to the FDA, the drug had been associated with 341 reports of heart rhythm abnormalities, including 80 deaths, as of Dec. 31. The agency said most of the adverse events occurred in patients taking additional medications or who were suffering from underlying conditions known to increase risk of cardiac arrhythmia associated with Propulsid. ...