Italy has recorded a total of 63 cases in which people have apparently had adverse reactions to Bayer AG's Baycol/Lipobay anti-cholesterol drug, the Health Ministry said.

In two of the cases, the patients had died, the ministry said.

Bayer has withdrawn it from sale all over the world after reports that it could be harmful, particularly when used along with another anti-cholesterol drug called Gemfibrozil.

Separately, Italian prosecutors said a total of five judicial inquiries had been opened into the effects of the drug.