Belviq, the brand name for Lorcaserin, has been withdrawn from the U.S. market after repeated fears about its links to cancer.
On February 13th, 2020, the FDA asked the makers of Belviq to remove the drug from the market. Patients were advised to immediately stop taking the drug and speak with their physician.
Hi, I am attorney Brian Mahany. In this short 3 minute video, we examine why the drug has been removed from pharmacies and what it means for patients.
Lorcaserin is a weight loss drug that has been on the market since 2012. It is sold under the name Belviq and Belviq Extended Release or simply Belviq “XR.” It works by giving patients a sense of fullness, so they eat less.
The makers of Belviq first sought FDA approval for the drug in 2010. The FDA rejected the drug after tests in laboratory animals showed the links to breast tumors and brain cancer. The company assured the government that there was no equivalent risk for humans. In 2012, the FDA approved the drug but on a divided vote as some experts were not yet convinced of its safety.
Since then, long terms tests have shown an increased risk of certain types of cancer, including pancreatic cancer, lung cancer, and colon cancer. That caused the FDA to issue a safety advisory in January 2020, followed by this month’s notice calling for the drug’s withdrawal from the market. Patients are advised to immediately stop taking the drug.
Mahany Law, together with our pharmaceutical experts and partner law firms, is currently investigating Belviq and its makers. If you have been using Belviq or Belviq XR and have been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, lung cancer, or colon cancer, please contact us at the number appearing on your screen at the end of this video. We also wish to speak with patients who have been diagnosed with brain and breast cancer, although those links in humans have not been established. All inquiries are strictly confidential.
Are you or did you work for Arena Pharmaceuticals or Eisai, makers of the drug? If you have inside information about safety testing of the drug or adverse side effects, we also want to speak with you. Privacy assured.
Remember, if you have been prescribed Belviq, the FDA says you should stop taking the drug immediately and see your physician. If you were taking this weight loss drug and were diagnosed with pancreatic, colon, or lung cancer, contact us at the number on your screen.
LAST SCREEN:
Contact attorney Brian Mahany at 202.800.9791 or [hidden email]