June 27, 2012 in Health
MATTHEW PERRONE AP Health Writer
(AP Photo/Food and Drug Administration) photo
This photo provided by Food and Drug Administration shows Arena Pharmaceuticals anti-obesity pill Belviq. The Food and Drug Administration has approved Belviq, the first new prescription drug for long-term weight loss to enter the U.S. market in over a decade. The agency cleared the pill Wednesday for adults who are obese or are overweight with at least one medical complication, such as diabetes or highcholesterol. (Full-size photo)
WASHINGTON (AP) The Food and Drug Administration has approved Arena Pharmaceuticals anti-obesity pill Belviq, the first new prescription drug for long-term weight loss to enter the U.S. market in over a decade.
Despite only achieving modest weight loss in clinical studies, the drug appeared safe enough to win the FDAs endorsement, amid calls from doctors for new weight-loss treatments.
The agency cleared the pill Wednesday for adults who are obese or are overweight with at least one medical complication, such as diabetes or high cholesterol.
The FDA denied approval for Arenas drug in 2010 after scientists raised concerns about tumors that developed in animals studied with the drug. The company resubmitted the drug with additional data earlier this year, and the FDA said there was little risk of tumors in humans.
The approval of this drug, used responsibly in combination with a healthy diet and lifestyle, provides a treatment option for Americans who are obese or are overweight and have at least one weight-related comorbid condition, said FDAs drug center director, Dr. Janet Woodcock, in a statement.
Read more from the original source:
FDA clears first new weight-loss pill in 13 years - Wed, 27 Jun 2012 PST
