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Belviq is a weight-loss drug manufactured by Eisai Inc. It’s the brand-name version of a class of medications that contain lorcaserin as an active ingredient. This chemical compound has been shown to support weight loss by reducing appetite.
Lorcaserin works by activating users’ serotonin 2C receptors. These receptors regulate feelings of satiety, meaning that increased serotonin 2C receptor activation decreases appetite by making users feel fuller after eating less food.
Lorcaserin-containing drugs are intended to be used in conjunction with other lifestyle improvements such as dietary changes and increased exercise to support sustained weight loss. In early clinical studies, this weight-loss drug was shown to be effective at supporting weight loss in obese people and overweight people with BMIs over 27 and one or more comorbid conditions. Half of the lorcaserin-taking participants in clinical trials lost five percent of their body weight or more in the first year of taking the appetite suppressant, and around a quarter of them lost at least 10% of their body weight.
Lorcaserin’s Benefits Do Not Outweigh the Risks
The FDA approved Eisai, Inc.’s lorcaserin-containing weight loss drug in 2012 after early clinical studies seemed to show that its benefits outweighed its risks. However, more recent research shows that while the company’s initial warning that its medication may increase the risk of developing adverse cardiovascular effects was unfounded, it may cause cancer.
In 2018, a five-year clinical study was completed. Researchers did not note a correlation between any form of an adverse cardiovascular event and taking lorcaserin-containing drugs. They did, however, note that participants who took Eisai’s medication had a clinically significant increase in instances of lung, colorectal, and pancreatic cancer.
In response to the findings, the FDA issued a warning about the potential adverse effects of lorcaserin in 2020 and instructed users to stop taking the drug immediately. While the FDA did not recommend cancer screening for all patients who used lorcaserin-containing drugs, it did advise medical professionals to stop prescribing them. The FDA also issued an announcement calling for the voluntary recall of Eisai’s then-popular weight loss medication.
Eisai Inc.’s Response
Eisai complied with the announcement by voluntarily withdrawing its weight loss drug. At the same time, though, the company issued a press release maintaining that its medication has a positive benefit-risk profile despite patients’ increased cancer risk. This move preceded a continued push to refuse accountability and a move to dismiss all complaints.
Pending Lawsuits
There are currently three pending lawsuits against Eisai, Inc. in regards to its lorcaserin-containing drugs. Fuller v. Eisai, Inc. in Louisiana alleges that the company is liable for the plaintiff’s cancer diagnosis as a result of design defects. Initially, the suit also claimed damages for breach of warranty and manufacturing defects, but those additional allegations were dismissed in January 2021.
A similar case in New York, Steinman v. Eisai, Inc., alleges that Eisai intentionally concealed the dangers of lorcaserin from consumers and failed to perform sufficient clinical testing before releasing the drugs.
There is also a pending class-action lawsuit against Esai in New York. The plaintiffs in Zottola v. Eisai, Inc. assert that Eisai breached its implied warranty, employed deceptive practices, falsely advertised the drug, and committed fraudulent concealment. The class incorporates anyone living in the United States who purchased Eisai Inc.’s lorcaserin-containing weight loss drugs.
Esai has moved to dismiss both the individual lawsuits and the class action lawsuit. However, the motions remain pending.
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