BELVIQ LAWSUIT WHITEPAPER
About Belviq Lawsuit
Belviq, also known as lorcaserin, is a weight loss drug used by clinically overweight individuals, including those suffering from obesity or other weight-related medical issues.
Medical professionals have prescribed the drug to aid in weight loss, to reduce the risk of obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and reduce the risk of a shortened lifespan due to weight-related issues.
When FDA (Food & Drug Administration) approved lorcaserin in 2012, they required the drug manufacturer to conduct a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial to evaluate the risk of cardiovascular problems, which found that more patients taking lorcaserin (n=462; 7.7 percent) were diagnosed with cancer compared to those taking a placebo, which is an inactive treatment (n=423; 7.1 percent). The trial was conducted in 12,000 patients over 5 years. A range of cancer types was reported, with several distinct types of cancers occurring more frequently in the lorcaserin group, including pancreatic, colorectal, and lung.
On February 13th, 2020, the FDA requested the voluntary recall of Belviq, Belviq XR (lorcaserin) from the manufacturer because the safety clinical trial showed an increased occurrence of cancer. The FDA believes the risks of the drug outweigh the benefits which is why the voluntary recall was initiated. Belviq users began filing lawsuits for three distinct types of cancer after the FDA announcement.
Belviq Associated Injuries
There are many reported cancers in the Belviq lawsuits but the most common include:
- Pancreatic Cancer
- Colorectal Cancer
- Lung Cancer
Belviq Status of Litigation
Because Belviq is still in the preliminary stages of the lawsuit, there is currently no MDL (Multi-district Litigation) established for the cases. Currently, there have been no verdicts or settlements yet.
Belviq Manufacturer
The current manufacturer for Belviq is Eisai Inc. which is a Japanese pharmaceutical company headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. The drug manufacturer, Eisai Inc., has submitted a request to voluntarily withdraw the drug.