When the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued its January 2020 safety communication warning of a possible increased risk of cancer with Belviq (lorcaserin), it said that the cause was uncertain and it could not conclude that Belviq was the cause. Just shy of a month later, the agency requested that Eisai Inc. voluntarily withdraw the drug from the market. The drug maker says it has a different interpretation of the data and still believes that Belviq has a positive risk-benefit profile but agreed to voluntarily withdraw the weight-loss drug and discontinue sales.
Belviq Linked to Increased Cancer Rates
In a clinical trial, subjects taking Belviq had an increased rate of a range of cancers:
- Colorectal cancer
- Lung cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
The risk of cancer increases the longer a person takes the drug.
The increased cancer rate was discovered in a safety trial that the FDA required Eisai to conduct to evaluate the cardiovascular risk of Belviq. The trial lasted five years and included more than 12,000 subjects.
Patients Are Advised to Discontinue Use
The FDA advises people who are taking Belviq to stop taking the drug and talk to their doctors about choosing a different weight-loss medication and weight management plan.
Belviq is prescribed to treat obesity and is meant to be used in combination with diet and exercise. It works by helping patients feel full after eating smaller meals. It is often prescribed to people with weight-related health problems, such as diabetes and heart disease, but does not directly treat those conditions and is not a replacement for medications used to treat those conditions.
Belviq Concerns Are Not New
Belviq received FDA approval and hit the market in 2012. It is one of only five approved weight-loss drugs. The FDA’s advisory panel initially rejected Belviq because animal studies found an increased risk of tumors. The European Medicines Agency reject Belviq due to safety concerns. Eisai withdrew its submission for approval in Canada after it could not address questions raised by Health Canada that would have prevented its approval.
If you have developed cancer after taking Belviq, you may be able to recover compensation that can pay for your medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering and other damages. An experienced product liability attorney can help.
To learn more about your rights after a drug injury, search our directory for a drug recall attorney in your area and schedule your free consultation today.
