Sage Datko  |  August 12, 2021

Category: Legal News

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Belviq (lorcaserin) is a prescription weight loss drug that has been associated with an increased risk of numerous types of cancer, according to a recent safety clinical trial.

Top Class Actions is reporting on the alleged link between Belviq and cancer to connect those who may have been affected with experienced attorneys who can assist in pursuing legal help for such adverse side effects. If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with cancer after taking lorcaserin for weight loss, you may be able to file a Belviq lawsuit and pursue compensation by filling out the form on this page.

What is Lorcaserin Made of?

Belviq weight loss pills are made of lorcaserin hydrochloride, a serotonin 2C receptor agonist used for chronic weight management. It is manufactured by Eisai Inc., though it was originally developed by Arena Pharmaceuticals.

Lorcaserin is meant to be used as an adjunct weight therapy, alongside a healthy diet and increased physical activity. Lorcaserin is a long-term treatment and works to reduce a person’s feelings of hunger by activating a serotonin receptor in the hypothalamus, the part of the brain that controls appetite.

Is Lorcaserin FDA Approved?

Lorcaserin was approved for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2012. It’s approved for adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 as well as adults with a BMI of 27 who also exhibit other cardiovascular risks like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or Type 2 diabetes.

Lorcaserin was a treatment for weight loss and not any underlying conditions that may have caused obesity in the first place.

However, FDA approval doesn’t mean that a drug is perfectly safe. According to the FDA, “If FDA grants an approval, it means the agency has determined that the benefits of the product outweigh the known risks for the intended use.”

If new studies emerge that indicate the risks may actually outweigh the benefits, the FDA can ask manufacturers to recall the product.

Even lorcaserin’s initial FDA approval wasn’t smooth sailing. It was originally rejected by an FDA panel in a 9-to-5 vote by committee members, with some concerned about the drug’s safety and others about its efficacy. Safety concerns primarily stemmed from the fact that rats exposed to the drug during the course of a study began developing tumors, according to The New York Times.

Some committee members voted against FDA approval because they didn’t view the drug as particularly effective, and therefore not worth approving, even without the risks.

As part of the condition for the FDA approval of lorcaserin in 2012, the manufacturer was required to conduct a clinical safety trial to monitor for potential cardiovascular risks.

Why Doctors Prescribe Belviq?

More than 42% of adults in the U.S. were considered obese in 2017 and 2018, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),

Obese men and women are at an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers, too. Medical costs related to obesity are around $147 billion each year.

Belviq was the first prescription weight-loss medication in 13 years that received approval by the FDA.

Losing even 5 percent of total body weight can make a big difference in a variety of ways, according to Harvard Health. People who lose weight may experience a reduced incidence of heartburn, reduced knee pain, and lower blood pressure. Losing weight also is known to decrease the risk of diabetes, improve sleep, and provide the body with extra energy.

Harvard Health spoke with Dr. David M. Nathan, director of the Diabetes Center and Clinical Research Center, who explained, “Fat is not just a passive storage site for calories. Chemicals called adipokines, secreted by fat cells, can cause inflammation and interfere with the action of insulin; more fat, more adipokines. But weight loss reduces adipokines, allows insulin to lower blood sugar levels more effectively, and reduces diabetes risk.”

Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford is an obesity medicine doctor with Massachusetts General Hospital, which is affiliated with Harvard. She said that every person’s body chemistry is unique, which means some people have an easier time losing weight than others. Still, even if the scale doesn’t move downward as quickly as you’d like, Dr. Stanford said to be patient and stay on the right track because eventually, you will start to see your health improve.

Belviq Lorcaserin Side Effects

All medication will come with side effects, and lorcaserin is no exception. Common mild lorcaserin side effects include:

  • Nausea
  • Dry mouth
  • Headache
  • Dizziness
  • Constipation
  • Tiredness

Other serious complications can include:

  • Easy bleeding/bruising
  • Enlarged breasts
  • Mental/mood changes
  • Suicidal thoughts
  • Low blood sugar

Patients may have far more severe lorcaserin side effects to worry about when taking the weight loss pill — including cancer.

Does Belviq Lorcaserin Cause Cancer?

Initially, after Eisai’s clinical trial showed that Belviq had no link to an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, and cardiovascular death in patients, the company had hoped this would help give a push to the drug’s performance on the market. But then, when the FDA reviewed the clinical trial’s results, another serious risk began to emerge.

Lorcaserin weight loss medication may have side effects.In January, the FDA issued a safety communication to the public, noting that an increased risk of cancer had been linked with Belviq lorcaserin. While the link was uncertain at the time, the agency noted that it “wanted to make the public aware of this potential risk” as it continued to evaluate the results of a recent clinical trial.

Then, in February, the FDA announced that it during a review of the manufacturer’s clinical trial it found that more patients taking lorcaserin were diagnosed with cancer than those who took a placebo drug instead. The trial looked at 12,000 patients over a five-year period, from January 2014 to June 2018. The review found that patients with an established cardiovascular disease or multiple risk factors faced a risk of developing cancer.

Because of these cancer risks, the FDA requested that Eisai remove Belviq lorcaserin from the market.

Eisai has begun discussing the facilitation of the withdrawal with global distributors.

What Types of Cancer Are Linked to Lorcaserin Belviq?

There are a few specific types of cancer linked with lorcaserin use. The FDA found that in the trial’s lorcaserin group, several types of cancers occurred more frequently in lorcaserin users, including pancreatic cancer, colon cancer, and lung cancer.

What To Do If You Took Belviq

In light of the Belviq recall, many who take the drug Belviq may be wondering about the potential impact of Belviq on their health, or have questions about the safety of weight-loss drugs in general.

Dr. Florencia Halperin told Harvard Health that the risk of developing cancer was only slightly increased in patients taking Belviq. In recent research, 7.1 percent of patients who took a placebo developed cancer, whereas 7.7 percent developed cancer. She also noted that it is not yet understood why or how the drug could increase a patient’s cancer risk if it does.

Patients who took Belviq are advised to stop taking the drug under the care and advice of a doctor. Currently, the FDA is not advising Belviq patients to undergo cancer screenings or another test to mitigate the potentially elevated risk.

Dr. Halperin notes that if a patient’s doctor recommends a different weight-loss medication in light of the Belviq recall, they may experience different results. Dr. Halperin points out that each weight loss medication works differently and affects patients differently.

Despite the Belviq recall, Dr. Halperin reassures patients that this does not mean that all weight loss medications are unsafe.

The recalls, as well as potential side effects of any drug on the market, may merit caution on the part of patients and doctors. A physician-monitored treatment plan involving a prescription weight loss drug may have fewer risks than taking a weight loss supplement, which has not been FDA approved may have not been thoroughly researched, according to Dr. Halperin.

What to Do if You Have Developed Cancer After Taking Lorcaserin

If you or someone you love has developed pancreatic cancer, lung cancer, colon cancer, or another cancer after taking lorcaserin weight loss pills (brand name Belviq), you may be able to file a lawsuit and pursue compensation. Of course, filing a lawsuit cannot take away the pain and suffering caused by a cancer diagnosis, nor can it bring a loved one back to life, but it can at least help to alleviate the financial burden incurred by medical expenses, lost wages, and more.

Potential lawsuits may claim that manufacturers either knew or should have known about the link between lorcaserin and cancer risk for years and that manufacturers failed to warn the public and the medical community about this risk. The drugmaker may have ignored warning signs about Belviq’s cancer risks and continued to encourage consumers to take the drug for weight loss despite these known risks.

At least one woman is attempting to have her lawsuit against Eisai certified as a class action case. Plaintiff Barbara Z. of New York filed her lawsuit against the pharmaceutical company in March 20, one month after Belviq had already been pulled from the market. Despite the recall already in action, Barbara claimed that damage done by the drug had already been done to countless users of the medication.

In addition to her claims that Eisai sought approval for lorcaserin after a long term study of the drug’s effect on rats indicated that Belviq was likely to cause rare and aggressive tumors, she also notes that the drug was initially rejected by the FDA in 2010 due to safety concerns and a lack of evidence showing that the drug worked.

Barbara also claims that the profits made from the drug were a likely incentive for Eisai to continue to market the drug to potential users after it was approved. As Belviq may cost around $300 a month and is not covered by most insurance plans, the medication may have been a steady source of profit for the pharmaceutical company.

Although her lawsuit does not indicate whether she herself suffered from the development of cancer related to her use of Belviq over the course of two years, she is seeking reimbursement and additional damages for the costs of the expensive and potentially dangerous medication.

Filing a lawsuit can be a daunting prospect, especially in the wake of a cancer diagnosis, so Top Class Actions has laid the groundwork by connecting you with an experienced attorney. Consulting an attorney can help you determine if you have a claim, navigate the complexities of litigation, and maximize your potential compensation.

If you took Belviq or Belviq XR and developed cancer, you may be able to join a FREE Belviq cancer class action lawsuit investigation. Fill out the form on this page for more information.

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