Orexigen Therapeutics announced that its obesity drug Empatic demonstrated significant weight loss in a Phase IIb clinical trial, intensifying the race for an anti-obesity drug. Empatic combines the antidepressant Wellbutrin with the anti-seizure drug zonisamide. Approximately 60% of patients given the maximum dose of Empatic lost 5% of their body weight, compared to 14.7% for the placebo. Patients who completed the 24-week trial lost weight at an average of 10%. The results exceeded FDA requirements for weight control drugs.