Upjohn Company of the UK, the manufacturer of the once popular sleeping pill Halcion, is trying hard to get a ban on its drug revoked. In a fresh move, the company is contemplating asking the Court of Appeal to refer its case to the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg. It hopes to get a ruling which would urge the High -Court in London to take into account a European directive on medicines to decide whether to quash the ban or not.

The latest step adopted by the Upjohn company is another milestone in their lengthy campaign to re-introduce the drug Halcion to the British market. The drug was withdrawn in the year 1991 amidst widespread fears among consumers about possible side-effects such as depression, amnesia and personality changes.