A New, but Not Yet Approved, Weight Loss Drug

The weight loss drugs fenfluramine and dexfenfluramine were removed from the U.S. market in 1997. These drugs were agonists of serotonin receptors located not only in the central nervous system (CNS; where the drugs suppressed appetite), but also in heart valves and pulmonary arteries (where the drugs caused valvulopathy and pulmonary hypertension). In contrast, a new serotonin receptor agonist, lorcaserin, is highly selective for CNS receptors.

In an industry-sponsored randomized trial, 3182 obese or overweight adults received lorcaserin or placebo, along with dietary and exercise counseling. People with diabetes or psychiatric disease were excluded. Only half the patients completed 1 full year in the study.

At 1 year, mean weight loss was s…