qsymia and lorcaserin

Obesity is a growing pandemic, and related health and economic costs are staggering. Pharmacotherapy, partnered with lifestyle modifications, forms the core of current strategies to reduce the burden of this disease and its sequelae. However, therapies targeting weight loss have a significant history of safety risks, including cardiovascular and psychiatric events. Here, evolving strategies for developing antiobesity therapies, including targets, mechanisms, and developmental status, are highlighted. Progress in this field is underscored by Belviq (lorcaserin) and Qsymia (phentermine/topiramate), the first agents in more than 10 years to achieve regulatory approval for chronic weight management in obese patients. On the horizon, novel insights into metabolism and energy homeostasis reveal guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) signaling circuits as emerging targets for antiobesity pharmacotherapy. These innovations in molecular discovery may elegantly align with practical off-the-shelf approaches, leveraging existing approved drugs that modulate cGMP levels for the management of obesity.

Topics: Animals; Anti-Obesity Agents; Benzazepines; Drug Combinations; Drug Delivery Systems; Drug Discovery; Fructose; Humans; Obesity; Phentermine

Topics: Anti-Obesity Agents; Appetite; Appetite Depressants; Benzazepines; Benzoxazines; Bupropion; Clinical Trials as Topic; Drug Approval; Drug Combinations; Drug Discovery; Energy Metabolism; Enzyme Inhibitors; Fructose; Glucagon-Like Peptide 1; Humans; Hypothalamus; Lactones; Lipase; Liraglutide; Metabolic Syndrome; Naltrexone; Obesity; Orlistat; Phentermine; Topiramate

Obesity is a chronic disease universally defined as an excess of adipose tissue resulting in body mass index (BMI) > 30.0 kg/m2. Over the past few years, the concept of prevention has gained increased awareness, thus leading to the development of additional pharmaceutical options for the treatment of obesity since 2012. Treating obesity revolves around an individualized, multi-disciplinary approach with additional focus on a healthy and supportive lifestyle to maintain the weight loss. [Full article available at http://rimed.org/rimedicaljournal-2017-03.asp].

Topics: Anti-Obesity Agents; Benzazepines; Body Mass Index; Bupropion; Drug Combinations; Fructose; Humans; Lactones; Liraglutide; Naltrexone; Obesity; Orlistat; Phentermine; Weight Loss

As obesity rates continue to rise in the United States, both physicians and patients have demanded more safe and effective drug treatment options. However, following the fen-phen/Redux and sibutramine failures, the FDA has been hesitant to approve any anti-obesity drugs, despite the magnitude of the epidemic. Some have argued that these public embarrassments have led the FDA to overestimate the risks and underestimate the benefits when deciding whether to approve new anti-obesity drugs. On June 27, 2012, the FDA approved Belviq for chronic weight management, making it the first anti-obesity drug approved by the FDA in thirteen years. Less than one month later, the FDA approved Qsymia for the treatment of obesity. Both drugs had been denied FDA approval less than two years earlier. In this paper, I will first review the obesity crisis and discuss the high-profile market withdrawals of fenfluramine, dexfenfluramine, and sibutramine. Second, I will explain the FDA's drug approval process with a focus on the FDA's risk/benefit calculus. Third, I will compare the FDA's risk/benefit analysis for Qsymia and Belviq in 2010 with the agency's risk/benefit analysis in 2012 to determine what caused the agency to grant approval in 2012 while denying it in 2010. Finally, I will analyze what these drug approvals may mean for the future of other anti-obesity drugs.

Topics: Anti-Obesity Agents; Benzazepines; Drug Approval; Drug Combinations; Fructose; Humans; Obesity; Phentermine; Risk Assessment; United States; United States Food and Drug Administration

Topics: Anti-Obesity Agents; Benzazepines; Drug Combinations; Fructose; Humans; Managed Care Programs; Organizational Case Studies; Phentermine; United States; Weight Reduction Programs

Topics: Anti-Obesity Agents; Benzazepines; Benzoxazines; Bupropion; Drug Combinations; Drug Labeling; Drugs, Investigational; Fructose; Humans; Naltrexone; Obesity; Phentermine; United States; United States Food and Drug Administration

Compared to the general population, individuals with psychiatric illness, especially serious and chronic mood and psychotic disorders, are more likely to be overweight or obese, have higher rates of weight-related medical conditions, and have greater non-suicide mortality rates. Lorcaserin (Belviq(®)), phentermine/topiramate combination (Qsymia(®)), and bupropion/naltrexone combination have been demonstrated to be effective for the treatment of obesity, as an adjunct to a reduced-calorie diet and physical activity, although their absolute safety has yet to be established with more widespread use or longer use. Bariatric surgery is an effective approach for morbid obesity, but careful psychiatric assessment before and follow up after surgery is necessary. Behavioral lifestyle interventions to promote weight loss are effective and should be implemented along with or instead of drug therapies or surgery.

Topics: Animals; Appetite Depressants; Bariatric Surgery; Benzazepines; Bupropion; Chronic Disease; Combined Modality Therapy; Diet, Reducing; Disease Models, Animal; Drug Combinations; Exercise; Fructose; Humans; Mood Disorders; Naltrexone; Obesity; Overweight; Phentermine; Psychotic Disorders; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic

Topics: Appetite Depressants; Benzazepines; Drug Combinations; Fructose; Humans; Obesity; Overweight; Phentermine; Weight Loss

Topics: Adult; Anti-Obesity Agents; Benzazepines; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Combinations; Drugs, Investigational; Female; Fructose; Heart Valve Diseases; Humans; Male; Obesity; Phentermine; Pregnancy; Tachycardia; Teratogens; Topiramate; Weight Loss

Topics: Anti-Obesity Agents; Benzazepines; Drug Combinations; Fructose; Legislation, Drug; Phentermine; United States; United States Food and Drug Administration

Topics: Anti-Obesity Agents; Benzazepines; Drug Combinations; Drug Interactions; Fructose; Humans; Obesity; Overweight; Phentermine; Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2C; Serotonin 5-HT2 Receptor Agonists; Treatment Outcome; Weight Loss