Date: Wed, 5 Apr 2000 11:53:54 EDT

Bliley Asks for US SEC Investigation of Mentor, Reuters Says

Washington, April 5

Representative Tom Bliley, chairman of the House Commerce Committee, has asked the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to investigate whether breast- implant maker Mentor Corp. misled investors last month in a public statement denying an investigation into alleged irregularities in a breast implant study, Reuters reported. Bliley, a Virginia Republican, said the Food and Drug Administration on March 29 confirmed in writing to the committee that the criminal investigation was related to the breast implant studies, the news service reported. FDA spokesman Brad Stone said the criminal investigation is related to the implant studies, while Mentor general counsel Douglas Altschuler said the company was standing by its previous statements, Reuters said.

Mentor shares dropped 11 percent March 23 after USA Today reported that the breast-implant maker was under criminal investigation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and Mentor issued a statement the same day saying the FDA investigation was of its manufacturing and unconnected to the breast implant studies.

Apr/05/2000 8:11