On February 13, 2020, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requested a recall of the prescription weight loss medications Belviq (lorcaserin) and Belviq XR after a study associated long term use with certain cancers. Belviq’s manufacturer, the Japanese pharmaceutical company Eisai Inc., voluntarily recalled the drug in response to the FDA’s recommendation.
What Is Belviq?
Belviq was approved by the FDA in 2012 as a prescription weight management treatment. It is approved for use for adults who have a body mass index (BMI) of over 30 or adults who have a BMI of 27 or more and have additional health risks.
What Did The FDA Study Find?
Shortly after Belviq was approved, the FDA authorized a clinical study to analyze cardiovascular problems associated with the drug. The double-blind, placebo-controlled study involved 12,000 patients over a five-year period and found occurrences of certain types of cancer in 7.7 percent of patients taking Belviq. This compares to occurrences of cancer in just 7.1 percent of patients taking a placebo. The study found more incidences of cancer among patients taking Belviq over a longer period of time.
What Cancers Is Belviq Linked To?
Patients taking Belviq developed a range of cancers, but the most common cancers reported included:
- Lung Cancer
- Pancreatic Cancer
- Colorectal Cancer
Why Did The FDA Recall Belviq?
The FDA initially issued a Drug Safety Communication in January 2020 warning the public of a possible link between Belviq and increased cancer risks. Less than a month later, the agency issued an updated Drug Safety Communication recommending that Eisai Inc. recall Belviq from the U.S. market. The agency concluded that “the risks of lorcaserin outweigh its benefits” after its review of the clinical study.
How Goldenberg Lauricella Can Help
Goldenberg Lauricella is currently handling cases where an individual has taken Belviq and developed lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, or colorectal cancer. Contact us today for a free Belviq cancer lawsuit evaluation. Our Minnesota Cancer Attorneys have been litigating complex cancer cases for over three decades, let us deliver the Gold standard advocacy you deserve.