Eisai Inc. and Arena Pharmaceuticals, partners in the weight-loss pill Belviq, voluntarily withdrew the drug from the market in February after a clinical trial found a higher instance of cancer in patients taking the drug. But at least one Belviq class action lawsuit filed against the companies since then claims they knew long before the trial that the medication might pose a risk.

A 2007 study of the effects of Belviq on rats showed the drug caused “rare and aggressive tumors … including lethal, malignant mammary and brain tumors,” the lawsuit alleges.

Eisai pulled the medication at the request of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, but said it disagreed with the FDA’s determination that Belviq is dangerous.

What is Eisai Inc.’s Belviq Medication?

Weight-loss medications can be helpful to those who have not been able to succeed through diet and exercise alone, an article on Harvard Medical School’s website says. Some weight loss drugs work by altering the way the body regulates weight, others by suppressing appetite.

Arena first developed lorcaserin, the generic version of Belviq, to help people who are obese, or who are overweight and suffer from weight-related medical conditions. The company later partnered with Eisai Inc. to market and distribute the drug.

Lorcaserin, the Harvard report says, “works by affecting brain serotonin signaling, making you feel more full, so you eat less.”

The FDA rejected Arena’s initial application for lorcaserin in early 2010, citing the study that found rats who were given the medication developed tumors, the Journal of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapeutics reported. The agency also said there wasn’t enough evidence lorcaserin was actually effective in producing weight loss.

After conducting more research and testing, Arena and Eisai Inc. submitted a new application for Belviq and in 2012 the FDA granted them conditional approval to market and sell the pills to adults suffering obesity and to overweight patients diagnosed with at least one weight-related illness. An extended release version of the drug, Belviq XR, was given the same approval in 2016. At the time, a black box warning on the label was not necessary.

One of the conditions of the approval was that Eisai Inc. would conduct a randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled clinical trial on Belviq to assess its cardiovascular effects.

Does Belviq Cause Cancer?

In compliance with the FDA’s requirements, Belviq was put through a five-year trial with 12,000 participants in eight countries, including the U.S., a summary on the U.S. National Library of Medicine’s website says.

The results showed Belviq did contribute to sustained weight loss without creating a higher risk of heart problems, but more people who took Belviq were diagnosed with cancer during the study than those who took a placebo. Specifically, the FDA reported 7.7% of patients taking the weight-loss drug were found to have cancer while 7.1% of those taking the placebo were. The types of cancers found included pancreatic, colorectal and lung cancer.

“We cannot conclude that lorcaserin contributes to the cancer risk. However, we wanted to make the public aware of this potential risk,” FDA regulators said in a statement issued in January.

Ultimately, the FDA decided the potential risks of lorcaserin outweighed its benefits and on Feb. 13, 2020, asked Eisai to voluntarily withdraw Belviq and Belviq XR from the market.

According to the study, an additional instance of cancer was found for every 470 patients who had been exposed to Belviq. Although the risk of developing cancer after taking Belviq may appear to be only slightly elevated, the three cancers that have been associated with the medication are in the top five deadliest cancers. Together, these cancers kill almost 240,000 people each year. Additionally, Belviq has been taken by hundreds of thousands of people.

At Belviq’s peak, sales from the drug brought in almost $50 million for Eisai Inc. in 2014, and more than 600,000 patients took the drug the following year. It is unknown how many patients who have taken Belviq may have been diagnosed with cancer, or are aware of the potential correlation. Moreover, complaints about the drug continue to be filed.

Was Eisai Inc. Aware of the Belviq Cancer Risk?

Eisai Inc. has been accused of alleged awareness of the risks of their drug, as the company has been working with Arena Pharmaceuticals since at least 2010 when it agreed to partner with the company to market and distribute Belviq. The FDA’s rejection of lorcaserin over concerns about tumors in the laboratory animals given the drug was publicly reported.

What Class Action Lawsuits Have Been Filed Against Eisai Inc.?

A woman from New York who took Belviq over a two-year span filed a class action lawsuit against Eisai Inc., Arena and CVS – the pharmacy she bought the pills from – in federal court in March 2020. In her complaint, Barbara Zottola says the pharmaceutical companies knew Belviq posed a risk to consumers, but advertised and sold it anyway.

And although they recalled Belviq from the market this year, “By that point, unfortunately, the damage had already been done,” her lawsuit says. She is pursuing compensation on behalf of herself as well as other patients who have taken the drug. She has accused Eisai of engaging in deceptive acts and false advertising, as well as fraud.

A spokesperson for Eisai Inc. told Westfair, a weekly business publication in White Plains, N.Y., Zottola’s claims are “without merit.”

In addition to pursuing compensation for injuries or illnesses related to taking Belviq, patients may also be able to collect reimbursement for the costs of the potentially dangerous drug. A one month supply of Belviq costs more than $300, and the drug is generally not covered through insurance plans. Patients who have shelled out hundreds or thousands of dollars for a weight loss drug that increased their risk of developing cancer may be able to recover this money by partnering with a qualified attorney.

The Belviq Class Action Lawsuit is Zottola, et al. v. Eisai Inc., et al., Case No. 7:20-cv-02600, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

Can You File a Belviq Cancer Class Action Lawsuit?

Consumers who have purchased or taken Belviq might qualify to participate in a class action lawsuit against its manufacturer, Eisai Pharma. Discussing the matter with a qualified, experienced attorney can be helpful in making that determination.

Join A Belviq Cancer Side Effects Lawsuit Investigation

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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