Lorcaserin caused an average weight loss of 12.7 lbs after one year vs 4.7 lbs with placebo

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Tuesday, October 27, 2009 2:53 pm Email this article
Lorcaserin hydrochloride, a drug being developed by Area Pharmaceuticals, caused patients to lose an average of 12.7 pounds or 5.8 percent of body weight after one year versus 4.7 pounds or 2.2 percent of body weight for those given a placebo.

This according to results posted on their website

5% Weight Loss

Patients achieving 5% Weight Loss: 48% vs 20%

Nearly half of patients (48%) lost at least 5 percent of their body weight versus 20 percent for those given a placebo.

 

Dropouts

Dropout rates similar between the drug group and placebo group

They note that dropout rates were similar between the drug and the placebo group, however, they do not say what the percentage was.

 

No Increase In Valve Problems

No increase in heart valve problems seen

The also looked for heart valve problems but said that the rates of valve problems were similar between the drug group and the placebo group.

 

Subjects

Subjects: 3182 patients at 100 sites in the US

The study involved “3,182 patients in approximately 100 sites in the US”.

Subjects were overweight or obese with a body mass index (BMI) of 27 or more.

 

Dose

Dose: 10 mg twice a day

The dose given was 10 mg twice a day.

 

Serotonin 2C Agonist

Lorcaserin is a serotonin 2C agonist

“Lorcaserin is a novel single agent that represents the first in a new class of selective serotonin 2C receptor agonists,” the website notes.

This means the drug directly stimulates serotonin 2C receptors.

 

Comment

Direct agonists are not as safe as indirect agonists

Comment: In my opinion, direct agonists like this are not as safe than indirect agonists.

Indirect agonists force the body to release a chemical which, in turn, stimulates the receptor.

 

Comment Regarding Fenfluramine and Heart Valve Damage

Comment: Fenfluramine caused Heart Valve Damage by a metabolite directly stimulating a serotonin receptor

An example of this is the way that fenfluramine and dexfenfluramine caused heart valve damage.

They did this because one of their metabolites called D-norfenfluramine directly stimulated serotonin receptors.

That’s why I say that drugs that directly stimulate receptors are not as safe as drugs that force the release of a chemical in the body which, in turn, stimulates the receptor.

REFERENCE

Phase 3 Results: BLOOM. Arena Pharmaceuticals. Oct 22, 2009.
http://www.arenapharm.com/wt/page/bloom.html

Articles on the same subject can be found here:

• Lorcaserin (also see Belviq (lorcaserin hydrochloride))