Belviq and Belviq XR (lorcaserin) are weight-loss pills that were pulled off the U.S. market after a study found an increased risk of cancer.

Need a Texas Belviq Lawyer? Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged. If you or a loved one was diagnosed with cancer after taking Belviq, you should contact our lawyers immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a lawsuit.

UPDATE: FDA Demands Belviq Recall Due to Cancer Risk

In February 2020, the FDA announced that it had requested the withdrawal of Belviq and Belviq XR from the U.S. market after a major study found an increased risk of cancer.

The potential risk of cancer outweighs any weight-loss benefits, according to the FDA. In the study, 7.7% of patients on Belviq developed cancer, compared to 7.1% of patients on an inactive placebo.

List of Cancers Linked to Belviq

  • Pancreatic cancer
  • Colorectal cancer
  • Colon cancer
  • Lung cancer
  • Breast cancer

What is Belviq?

When the FDA approved Belviq (lorcaserin) in June 2012, it was the first weight-loss medication approved in the U.S. in 13 years. Its manufacturer (Arena Pharmaceuticals) and marketer (Eisai Co., Ltd.) did not start selling Belviq until June 2013.

How Does Belviq Work?

Belviq works by influencing serotonin, a neurotransmitter in the brain that makes a person feel full and satisfied after eating a meal. Belviq makes a person feel full sooner, which can help them eat less food and lose weight, in conjunction with healthy eating and exercise. In clinical studies, patients who took Belviq for one year lost between 3% and 3.7% of their body weight.

Belviq Approved Despite Unknown Long-Term Risks

Belviq influences serotonin, a chemical that does much more than regulate feelings of fullness. Serotonin also plays important roles in the heart, nervous system, gastrointestinal tract, and more. Medications that adversely influence the serotonin system can have a wide variety of side effects.

Unfortunately, the long-term risks of Belviq are unknown. Some side effects, like cancer or heart disease, may not appear in early clinical studies because they take years to develop and even longer to research.

FDA Rejected Belviq in 2010 Due to Cancer Risk in Rats

The FDA rejected approval of Belviq in October 2010 due to concerns about Belviq and cancer. In clinical studies, rodents who were given 7-times the normal human dosage of Belviq developed breast and brain tumors. The drug-makers responded by assuring the FDA that these were rodent-specific tumors and the disease was not relevant to humans. In June 2012, the FDA voted 18-4 to recommend approval of Belviq.

Belviq and Heart Valve Damage

In clinical studies, 2.4% of Belviq patients developed heart valve damage, compared to 2% of patients who took a placebo. The study also found that patients on Belviq had a slower heart rhythm than placebo patients, decreased by 1-2 beats per minute.

The cardiovascular studies of Belviq are concerning because the last two diet drugs (Fen Phen and Redux) were recalled in 1997 after tens of thousands of people developed life-threatening pulmonary hypertension and heart valve damage. Belviq works in much the same was as fenfluramine, an ingredient in Fen Phen — it targets serotonin 2C receptors and the hormones that control appetite.

Need a Belviq Lawyer in Texas?

Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged.

Collen’s amazing success in the courtroom and well known dedication to his clients has earned him the recognition of his peers as one of The Top Trial Lawyers in Texas.”

The Clark Firm has assembled a team of trial lawyers with more than 100 years experience, participation in over 600 jury trials and $260 million in verdicts and/or settlements. Please use the form below to contact our law firm for a free case review.

Meet Your Attorney

Collen A. Clark

Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged.

“Collen’s amazing success in the courtroom and well known dedication to his clients has earned him the recognition of his peers as one of The Top Trial Lawyers in Texas.”

To contact Collen, please fill out the contact form below:

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