July 12, 2010 - FDA Panel To Review Anti-Obesity Drugs.

The Wall Street Journal (7/12, Gryta, Clark) reports that on Thursday, an FDA panel will review Vivus Inc.'s weight-loss drug Qnexa (phentermine/topiramate). Review of this and two additional formulations may be reviewed with similar criteria. The FDA said it will evaluate the drugs, which include Arena Pharmaceuticals Inc.'s lorcaserin and Orexigen Therapeutics Inc.'s Contrave (naltrexone SR/bupropion SR), under the assumption that patients will use them for the rest of their lives. The Journal notes that during the hearing for Qnexa, questions about the neurologic and psychiatric effects of topiramate, as well as the cardiovascular impact of phentermine are expected. Two of the three medications are merely reformulations of existing medications.