Weight loss pill praised as “holy grail” is withdrawn from US market over cancer link

A weight loss pill, which was heralded as the holy grail in the battle against obesity, is being withdrawn from the US market after a safety trial found that it was associated with an increased prevalence of cancer.1 The US Food and Drug Administration requested on 13 February that Eisai, the manufacturer of Belviq (lorcaserin), voluntarily withdraw the appetite suppressant from the market. Poorly understood harms Lorcaserin received favourable coverage in the media in 2018 after research deemed it to be the first weight loss drug that was safe for heart health with long term use.2 However, responding to the media coverage, the NHS emphasised that the drug had not been approved in Europe and that, even if it had been, it might not be made available on the NHS because of its price: around £1860-£2700 (€2218-€3220; $2395-$3476) per person per year.3 A series of articles published in BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine also highlighted that the drug caused minimal weight loss and that its harms were poorly understood.4 Patients have now been told to “stop taking lorcaserin,” and clinicians have been told to stop prescribing and dispensing the drug. [...]based on the change in FDA’s risk-benefit assessment and as requested by the agency, Eisai has agreed to voluntarily withdraw the products from the US market.