Eisai Withdraws Belviq Over Cancer Concerns

Eisai is withdrawing its weight-loss drug Belviq (lorcaserin HCl) and Belviq XR (lorcaserin HCl) CIV after a clinical trial of the drug reported that more patients treated with the drug were diagnosed with different forms of cancer compared to placebo.

When the drug was approved in 2012, Eisai was required to conduct the trial to evaluate the risk of cardiovascular problems associated with the drug. A range of cancer types were reported in the trial, but several different types occurred more frequently in the lorcaserin group including pancreatic, colorectal, and lung cancers.

The agency announced a possible risk of cancer associated with the drug based on preliminary analysis of the clinical trial data.