The FDA is alerting the public that results from a clinical trial assessing safety show a possible increased risk of cancer with the weight management medicine Belviq, Belviq XR (lorcaserin).
Lorcaserin is a prescription medicine approved by FDA in 2012 for use with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity to help weight loss in adults who are obese or are overweight and have weight-related medical problems. Lorcaserin works by increasing feelings of fullness so that less food is eaten. It is available as a tablet (Belviq) and an extended-release tablet (Belviq XR).
Data obtained from a large postmarketing study conducted in roughly 12,000 patients found that the weight loss treatment was linked to a potential cancer signal. According to a drug safety communication issued by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), over a 5-year follow-up period, a greater proportion of patients taking the drug had been diagnosed with cancer compared with those who received placebo.
While the investigation into this potential safety signal continues, the FDA is recommending that healthcare professionals consider the benefits and potential risks of lorcaserin therapy before prescribing. “We are continuing to evaluate the clinical trial results and will communicate our final conclusions and recommendations when we have completed our review,” the Agency stated.
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