Overview
Mediator (Servier) lawsuits — France. Fre-hance Mediator (benfluorex) was prescribed to overweight people with diabetes and as an appetite suppressant; it was withdrawn in 2009 after reports of heart-valve damage, with the death toll estimated in the hundreds to ~1,800 (per reporting). On December 20, 2023 a Paris appeals court ordered Servier to pay more than €430 million in damages (per Le Monde/VOA). As of July 31, 2026, Servier reports that 4,549 patients received compensation offers totaling €293.4 million, of which €261.6 million has been paid (per Servier). Criminal and further compensation proceedings continued through 2026; we track the public record only.
Status of the science / claims: Epidemiological review linked Mediator (benfluorex, Servier) to valvular heart disease; the French health evaluation agency and courts accepted a causal association for compensation purposes (per reporting and court rulings).
Companies involved
Settlement amounts
Court-ordered compensation: over €430 million ordered in 2023 (per Le Monde/VOA); offers totaling €293.4 million to 4,549 patients with €261.6 million paid as of July 2026 (per Servier). Individual amounts vary; no further amount can be promised.
Key dates
- July 31, 20264,549 patients have received compensation offers totaling €293.4 million, €261.6 million paid (per Servier Mediator page)
- December 20, 2023Paris Court of Appeal orders Servier to pay over €430 million in compensation (per Le Monde/VOA)
- November 1, 2009Mediator withdrawn from the French market (per reporting)
- December 1, 2007Doctor’s alert about heart-valve risks of Mediator sparks the scandal (per reporting)
Updates
- Updated Jul 31, 2026New case (Sep 2026, FR): Mediator/Servier — appeals court ordered over €430M (2023); 4,549 patients received offers totaling €293.4M, €261.6M paid (per Servier, Jul 2026).
Notable filings
No notable filings recorded yet. Docket entries are added from public court records as they appear.
FAQ
What was Mediator?
Mediator (benfluorex, Servier) was a French drug prescribed to overweight diabetics and as an appetite suppressant; it was withdrawn in 2009 after reports of heart-valve damage (per reporting).
How much was Servier ordered to pay?
A Paris appeals court ordered Servier to pay more than €430 million in December 2023; as of July 2026, offers totaling €293.4 million had been made to 4,549 patients, with €261.6 million paid (per Le Monde and Servier).
Can I still claim?
Compensation offers were being administered through 2026 (per Servier). Eligibility and deadlines are governed by the French proceedings; this is not legal advice.
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