Perspective
The FDA's Assessment of Two Drugs for Chronic Weight Management
N Engl J Med 2012; 367:1577-1579October 25, 2012DOI: 10.1056/NEJMp1211277
- Article
Owing to a complex interplay among genetic, environmental, and cultural factors, obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the United States. The adverse health consequences of obesity are manifold, potentially involving all major organ systems and contributing to reduced quality of life. The goal of all obesity therapies is negative energy balance. Drugs have long been used in an attempt to achieve this goal.
However, numerous once-promising weight-loss drugs have been abandoned because of serious toxic effects: aminorex (which caused pulmonary hypertension), fenfluramine and dexfenfluramine (valvulopathy), phenylpropanolamine (stroke), rimonabant (suicidal ideation and behavior), and most recently sibutramine (myocardial infarction and stroke). The removal of sibutramine from the market left orlistat as the only prescription drug approved for the long-term treatment of obesity.
It was with this troubled history and the undeniable need for effective, safe weight-loss drugs in mind that we at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved two new drugs as adjuncts to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity for chronic weight management in adults who are obese (defined as having a body-mass index [BMI; the weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in meters] of ≥30) or overweight (BMI ≥27) with at least one weight-related coexisting condition.
Belviq (lorcaserin, Arena Pharmaceuticals) is a selective agonist of the serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine) 2C (5-HT2C) receptor.1 Qsymia (phentermine plus extended-release topiramate, Vivus) is a fixed-dose combination of the sympathomimetic amine phentermine, which is an anorectic agent, and the antiepileptic drug topiramate.2 Both medications reduce appetite and, in some people, induce a negative energy balance.
In 1-year placebo-controlled clinical trials in which all participants received instruction in lifestyle modification, lorcaserin and phentermine–topiramate met one or both of the FDA criteria for clinically meaningful weight loss (see table
Weight-Loss Efficacy of Lorcaserin (Belviq) and Phentermine plus Extended-Release Topiramate (Qsymia) at 1 Year.).3 Moreover, as compared with the administration of placebo, drug treatment was generally associated with numerically more favorable changes in cardiometabolic and anthropometric parameters (e.g., blood pressure, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, and waist circumference). Both drugs also improved glycated hemoglobin levels in overweight and obese participants with type 2 diabetes.Initially, some potentially serious safety concerns about lorcaserin were identified; these included an increased incidence of multiple tumor types in rats, among them mammary and brain tumors, and a numerical imbalance in the incidence of FDA-defined valvulopathy — that is, either moderate or worse mitral-valve regurgitation or mild or worse aortic-valve regurgitation. Concern about the potential of lorcaserin to increase the risk of breast cancer in humans diminished after the data on mammary tumors in rats were readjudicated by a panel of five independent pathologists who, with near unanimity, categorized fewer tumors as malignant than the initial readings had. A clinical study, demonstrating that only a small fraction of the administered dose of lorcaserin enters the central nervous system, indicated that there was a large margin of safety in humans and allayed concern about brain tumors.
The weight-loss drugs fenfluramine and dexfenfluramine were removed from the market in 1997 because of an association with cardiac valvulopathy. Subsequent research indicated that the drugs' activation of serotonin 2B (5-HT2B) receptors on cardiac interstitial cells was most likely the mechanism responsible for the valvulopathy.4 On the basis of echocardiographic data from more than 5200 participants who received lorcaserin or placebo for up to 1 year, the relative risk of FDA-defined valvulopathy in lorcaserin-treated participants, as compared with those who received placebo, was 1.16 (95% confidence interval, 0.81 to 1.67). Considered in isolation, the 16% increase in the relative risk of valvulopathy, although not statistically significant, was of some concern. However, data from in vitro receptor assays indicated that lorcaserin has much greater selectivity for the 5-HT2C receptor than for the 5-HT2B receptor and would not, at the clinically recommended dose, be expected to activate the 5-HT2B receptor. Therefore, on the basis of these and other data, the FDA concluded that it is unlikely that lorcaserin increases the risk of valvulopathy in humans.
Potentially serious safety concerns regarding phentermine plus extended-release topiramate included teratogenicity and elevations in resting heart rate. Preliminary data suggesting that women who received topiramate during pregnancy were more likely to have infants born with an orofacial cleft were corroborated by additional pharmacoepidemiologic study.5 Accordingly, the approval of phentermine–topiramate required a risk evaluation and mitigation strategy (REMS). The REMS includes a medication guide, a patient brochure, and a formal training program for prescribers, all of which inform patients and prescribers of the teratogenic risk and stress the need for women of reproductive potential to use effective forms of contraception. The REMS also permits only specially certified pharmacies to dispense phentermine–topiramate. This component will enhance the distribution of informational materials to patients and maximize prescriber training.
Treatment with phentermine–topiramate at doses of 7.5 mg/46 mg and 15 mg/92 mg was associated with mean increases in heart rate of 0.6 bpm and 1.6 bpm, respectively, as compared with placebo. However, study participants treated with these doses had greater mean reductions in blood pressure than did the participants given placebo. Consequently, the combination medication was associated with numerically greater reductions in the rate–pressure product — an index of myocardial oxygen consumption — than was placebo. Taking into account the magnitude of weight loss and the favorable changes in blood pressure, the FDA concluded that the benefit–risk balance was positive and supported the approval of phentermine plus extended-release topiramate. The drug's labeling recommends regular heart-rate monitoring and recommends against use in patients with recent or unstable cardiac or cerebrovascular disease, since its use in these patients has not been studied.
In addition to the safety concerns outlined above, lorcaserin may increase the risk of psychiatric, cognitive, and serotonergic adverse effects. Phentermine–topiramate may increase the risk of metabolic acidosis, glaucoma, and psychiatric and cognitive adverse effects.
The FDA acknowledges that there is more to learn about these drugs. To ensure that the relevant data are obtained, the agency is requiring that the manufacturers conduct a number of postapproval clinical trials. One requirement for both drugs is a rigorous assessment of long-term cardiovascular safety in overweight and obese patients.
The FDA is aware of concern about the off-label use of lorcaserin and phentermine–topiramate by consumers who want to lose a few pounds for cosmetic reasons. Because these drugs are associated with potentially serious risks and are intended to be taken long-term, it is important that their use be limited to patients for whom they are indicated. Moreover, prescribers and patients should adhere to the recommendations in the labels regarding patients' initial weight-loss response to treatment. On the basis of the FDA analyses of the clinical trial data, it was determined that if after 12 weeks of treatment with lorcaserin a patient has not lost at least 5% of the baseline body weight, use of the drug should be discontinued, since it is unlikely that the patient will achieve meaningful weight loss with continued treatment. Similarly, if after 12 weeks of treatment with phentermine–topiramate at the 7.5 mg/46 mg dose, a patient has not lost at least 3% of the baseline weight, either the drug should be discontinued or the dose increased. If the latter option is chosen and the patient does not lose at least 5% of the baseline weight during an additional 12 weeks of treatment, the drug should be discontinued, because the patient is unlikely to achieve meaningful weight loss with continued treatment.
As with any newly marketed drugs, there may be yet-unknown benefits and risks associated with lorcaserin and phentermine–topiramate. However, on the basis of available data, the FDA determined that these two drugs have favorable benefit–risk profiles for chronic weight management in some obese and overweight patients.
Disclosure forms provided by the authors are available with the full text of this article at NEJM.org.
This article was published on October 10, 2012, at NEJM.org.
Source Information
From the Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD.
- References
References
1
FDA briefing information: meeting of the Endocrinologic and Metabolic Drugs Advisory Committee, May 10, 2012 (http://www.fda.gov/downloads/AdvisoryCommittees/CommitteesMeetingMaterials/Drugs/EndocrinologicandMetabolicDrugsAdvisoryCommittee/UCM303198.pdf).
2
FDA briefing information: meeting of the Endocrinologic and Metabolic Drugs Advisory Committee, February 22, 2012 (http://www.fda.gov/downloads/AdvisoryCommittees/CommitteesMeetingMaterials/Drugs/EndocrinologicandMetabolicDrugsAdvisoryCommittee/UCM292315.pdf).
3
Guidance for industry: developing products for weight management (draft). Silver Spring, MD: Food and Drug Administration, 2007 (http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Drugs/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/Guidances/UCM071612.pdf).
4
Rothman RB ,Baumann MH . Serotonergic drugs and valvular heart disease. Expert Opin Drug Saf 2009;8:317-329
CrossRef | Web of Science5
Margulis AV, Mitchell AA, Gilboa SM, et al. Use of topiramate in pregnancy and risk of oral clefts. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2012 July 16 (Epub ahead of print).
- Citing Articles (16)
Citing Articles
1
L Fani, S Bak, P Delhanty, E F C van Rossum, E L T van den Akker. (2013) The melanocortin-4 receptor as target for obesity treatment: a systematic review of emerging pharmacological therapeutic options. International Journal of Obesity
2
Donna H. Ryan, George A. Bray. (2013) Pharmacologic Treatment Options for Obesity: What Is Old Is New Again. Current Hypertension Reports 15:3, 182-189
3
Arne Astrup, Stephan Rössner, Nicholas Finer, Luc Van Gaal. (2013) Obesity in Europe – does anybody care?. Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy 14:8, 971-973
4
Andrew Whittle, Joana Relat-Pardo, Antonio Vidal-Puig. (2013) Pharmacological strategies for targeting BAT thermogenesis. Trends in Pharmacological Sciences 34:6, 347-355
5
Cynthia E. Weber, Lindsay J. Talbot, Justin M. Geller, Marissa C. Kuo, Philip Y. Wai, Paul C. Kuo. (2013) Obesity and trends in malpractice claims for physicians and surgeons. Surgery
6
Bruno Halpern, André M Faria, Alfredo Halpern. (2013) Fixed-dose combination of phentermine–topiramate for the treatment of obesity. Expert Review of Clinical Pharmacology 6:3, 235-241
7
Robert H. Howland. (2013) Therapies for Obesity and Medication-Associated Weight Gain. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services
8
Gilbert W. Kim, Jieru E. Lin, Scott A. Waldman. (2013) GUCY2C: at the intersection of obesity and cancer. Trends in Endocrinology & Metabolism 24:4, 165-173
9
Michael H. Davidson, Serena Tonstad, Suzanne Oparil, Michael Schwiers, Wesley W. Day, Charles H. Bowden. (2013) Changes in Cardiovascular Risk Associated With Phentermine and Topiramate Extended-Release in Participants With Comorbidities and a Body Mass Index ≥27 kg/m2. The American Journal of Cardiology 111:8, 1131-1138
10
Kelly Anne Holes-Lewis, Robert Malcolm, Patrick M. O’Neil. (2013) Pharmacotherapy of Obesity. The American Journal of the Medical Sciences 345:4, 284-288
11
Sheridan M. Hoy. (2013) Lorcaserin: A Review of its Use in Chronic Weight Management. Drugs 73:5, 463-473
12
Sharon A. Sadry, Daniel J. Drucker. (2013) Emerging combinatorial hormone therapies for the treatment of obesity and T2DM. Nature Reviews Endocrinology 9:7, 425-433
13
Julia Kenkre, Tricia Tan, Stephen Bloom. (2013) Treating the obese diabetic. Expert Review of Clinical Pharmacology 6:2, 171-183
14
Zarin , Deborah A. , Tse , Tony , . (2013) Unambiguous Identification of Obesity Trials. New England Journal of Medicine 368:6, 580-581
Free Full Text15
Layla Aitlhadj, Stephen R. Stürzenbaum. (2013) The toxicological assessment of two anti-obesity drugs in C. elegans. Toxicology Research 2:2, 145
16
Mohamed Hassan, Najma Latif, Magdi Yacoub. (2012) Adipose tissue: friend or foe?. Nature Reviews Cardiology 9:12, 689-702
- Letters
