Metabolife Files for Bankruptcy, Says Pending Lawsuits Are a 'Substantial Burden'

SAN DIEGO - Metabolife International Inc. has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, saying the ephedra-based weight loss products lawsuits against it have heavily burdened the company's operations. In Re: Metabolife International Inc., No. 05-6040-H11 (S.D. Calif. Bkcy.).

Metabolife, which used to manufacture ephedra-based weight loss products, filed for bankruptcy protection on June 30 in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of California. The company began manufacturing ephedra-free products in December 2003. However, due to the high volume of pending lawsuits from its ephedra-based products, the company said it has exhausted resources and time.

'[Metabolife] has had to …