OTHER NEWS - Oct. 18, 1991

Group Wants Criminal Probe of Halcion: Public Citizen, a consumer group, wants a criminal investigation to determine whether the maker of the popular sleep medication Halcion misrepresented potentially dangerous side effects. The group also urged the Food and Drug Administration to strengthen the warning label on the drug’s possible adverse reactions, which range from anxiety to hallucinations. A British Broadcasting Corp. program has alleged that Upjohn Co., which makes Halcion, misrepresented the results of studies it used to win FDA approval of the drug. In a related development, European Community officials said Halcion will be sold in smaller doses in the EC and carry stiffer warnings pending further studies, officials said.