A U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory panel has voted to recommend approval for a new weight loss drug manufactured by Arena Pharmaceuticals Inc. If approved, Lorqess (lorcaserin), will become one of the first diet pills to hit the market in the nearly 15 years since the once-popular fen phen was recalled.
Lorqess is currently one of three weight loss drugs under consideration by the FDA. Another drug, Vivus’ Qnexa, has had its approval decision delayed amid concerns that clinical trials have indicated an increased risk for heart problems as well as birth defects among women who use the drug while pregnant. Qnexa includes a combination of topiramate and phentermine, one half of the fen phen combination. Lorqess is designed to function similarly to fen phen by blocking appetite signals in the brain to encourage weight loss.
In clinical trials, lorcaserin helped people to lose up to 5 percent of the body weight compared to placebo drugs. The FDA has expressed concern over the possibility for heart valve damage in patients taking Lorqess and an advisory panel has recommended that all new weight loss drugs submitted for approval be subjected to extensive study to determine the risk for heart problems.
Fen phen, (fenfluramine and phentermine) was pulled from the market in 1997 after it was determined that patients using the drug were experiencing heart damage at alarmingly high rates. Prior to the recall, a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine suggested that patients who used fen phen were up to 23 times more likely to develop a condition known as primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH). PPH, also known as pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), is a condition which causes increased blood pressure in the lungs. As the heart works harder to pump blood throughout the body, the heart muscle may become enlarged, potentially leading to congestive heart failure. If left untreated, PPH can potentially become a life-threatening condition.
Following the fen phen recall, thousands of lawsuits were filed against American Home Products, the company that manufactured the drug. American Home, which later changed its name to Wyeth and has since been acquired by Pfizer, has reportedly spent billions of dollars to resolve fen phen side effects lawsuit. While a significant number of lawsuits have been settled, it’s believed that new claims could still be filed as fen phen users continue to be diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension. In some cases, it can take years for symptoms of PPH to develop.
While there is no cure for pulmonary hypertension, there are numerous ways to treat the condition, some of which can be costly. Patients who have been diagnosed with PPH after using fen phen may still be entitled to compensation for their medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering. If you or a loved one has PPH that you believe was caused by fen phen, you need to speak to an experienced fen phen attorney as soon as possible to discuss your rights.
Nadrich & Cohen, LLP is investigating fen phen side effects claims in all 50 states. For more information on filing a fen phen lawsuit, call 1-800-718-4658 to begin your free initial case evaluation. There is never a fee unless damages are recovered on your behalf.
With obesity in the U.S. reaching epidemic proportions, the demand for diet pills and other products designed to encourage weight loss continues to grow. Unfortunately, consumers may be putting themselves at risk by using diet supplements that have not been reviewed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Currently, the FDA is reviewing a new diet pill called Qnexa for approval, however, concerns over the safety of diet pills continue to linger, largely due to the widespread problems associated with the once-popular diet drug fen phen. Continue reading →
A new study published in The American Journal of Cardiology suggests that pulmonary hypertension is a primary indicator for heart failure in patients with acute myocardial infarction. Individuals who developed pulmonary hypertension after using he once-popular diet drug fen phen need to be aware of the potential risk for serious complications. Continue reading →
Qnexa includes phentermine, one half of the fen phen diet drug combination.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced it will extend its review of a new weight-loss drug called Qnexa in order to evaluate the drug’s possible side effects. If approved, the drug would be only the second prescription diet pill to reach the market since the FDA ordered a full-scale recall of fen phen in 1997. Continue reading →
A U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory panel recently voted 17-6 in favor of requiring drug manufacturers to conduct clinical trials to investigate the potential for cardiovascular side effects stemming from new obesity drugs. The move comes fifteen years after the once-popular weight loss pill fen phen was pulled from the market amid concerns over serious heart valve damage and other complications. Continue reading →
In the mid-1990′s, a new combination diet pill known as fen phen made headlines after patients who used the drug reported seemingly miraculous weight loss. The drug gained a new level of notoriety in 1997, after reports surfaced that fen phen users were experiencing heart valve damage and other complications. These reports triggered a fen phen recall and 15 years later, patients who used the once-popular diet pill are still suffering from adverse health effects. Continue reading →
Primary Pulmonary Hypertension is a serious condition affecting the lungs and heart.
Fen phen users who were diagnosed with a serious condition known as Primary Pulmonary Hypertension (PPH) need to be aware of the different treatments available to help manage this potentially life-threatening condition. Continue reading →
Fen phen users may be at risk for developing a condition known as primary pulmonary hypertension.
Primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH) is a condition that causes an increase in blood pressure in the lungs, which makes it more difficult for the heart to pump blood. PPH can be caused by a number of factors, including previous use of the diet drug fen phen. If you or a loved one was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension after using fen phen, you need to be aware of your legal rights. Continue reading →
A Food and Drug Administration advisory panel has announced that it will recommend a new diet drug known as Qnexa for marketing approval in the U.S. The drug, manufactured by Vivus, combines topiramate with phentermine, one half of the once-popular diet pill fen phen. The FDA’s decision to endorse Qnexa after its earlier rejection has many speculating whether patients who use the drug will suffer the same fate as those who used fen phen.
Fen Phen: What Went Wrong
Fen phen became enormously popular in the mid-1990s among patients who were seeking a fast and easy way to lose weight. The drug combined fenfluramine with phentermine and was marketed as Pondimin and in a derivative form known as Redux. Patients who used the drug experienced quick weight loss but it was eventually discovered that the drug was responsible for a number of serious side effects, including heart valve damage and a condition known as primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH). PPH is a condition in which the arteries of the lung’s narrow, causing the heart to have to work harder to pump blood. The heart muscle can eventually become enlarged and patients with PPH may at some point develop congestive heart failure.
In 1997, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ordered a recall of fen phen after a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine determined that fen phen users were 23 times more likely to develop primary pulmonary hypertension, also known as pulmonary arterial hypretension (PAH). Following the withdrawal of fen phen from the market, the drug’s maker, American Home Products, began facing numerous lawsuits filed on behalf of patients who suffered fen phen-related complications. American Home, which changed its name to Wyeth and was acquired by Pfizer, has reportedly paid billions to settle numerous fen phen side effects lawsuits,
Qnexa: What’s the Risk?
The FDA initially rejected Qnexa’s approval in 2010 after it was determined that the drug could potentially cause heart complications as well as birth defects among pregnant women who used the drug. While clinical trials suggested that patients who used the combination experienced up to a 10% weight loss in the first year, some patients also saw an increase in heart rate, which is believed to be an early indicator of stroke or heart attack,
In February 2012, the FDA advisory panel announced its endorsement of the diet drug, which many consider to be a surprising reversal in light of the heart attack risk. While fenfluramine is considered to be the culprit behind the large number of heart valve damage and PPH/PAH cases reported among fen phen users, health care professionals have voiced concern over how safe the drug may actually be. Unfortunately, without additional clinical testing, it’s likely that the long-term side effects of Qnexa may not be determined until it’s made available to consumers. The FDA is expected to issue its final decision on Qnexa’s approval sometime in April 2012.
Legal Remedies for Fen Phen Users
Patients who developed heart valve damage or primary pulmonary hypertension after using fen phen may still be eligible to seek compensation for their injuries. The time you have to file a claim may be limited so it’s important to contact an experienced fen phen attorney as soon as possible.
Nadrich & Cohen, LLP is currently investigating fen phen side effects claims in all 50 states. For more information on filing a fen phen PPH lawsuit, call 1-800-718-4658 to begin your free initial case evaluation. There is never a fee unless a judgment is recovered on your behalf.
Disclaimer:
The Phen Fen, Fen Phen, PPH, Phen Fen settlement, Phen Fen lawsuit, Phen
Fen class actions, Fen Phen litigation, FenPhen side effects, dangerous
drugs, drug error, personal injury, negligence, medical malpractice, wrongful
death or other legal information presented at this site should not be construed
to be formal legal advice, nor the formation of a lawyer or attorney client
relationship. This web site and the information contained herein are for
informational purposes only and not for legal advice. This web site is for
providing general helpful information to members of the public in need of
a licensed Phen Fen attorney.
