Bayer faces potential fine over cholesterol lowering drug

Bayer, the German company that was forced earlier this month to withdraw a cholesterol lowering drug from the market, might have to pay a fine of DM50000 (£16200; $23400) for withholding from the German authorities information on the drug's potentially fatal interaction with another drug.

Bayer's drug, cerivastatin (Baycol in the United States, Lipobay in the United Kingdom), was withdrawn after 52 deaths occurred in patients taking the drug; 31 of the deaths were in the United States (18 August, p …