A report indicates that more “magic bullet” type anti-obesity drugs, Qnexa from Vivus, Lorcaserin hydrochloride from Arena Pharmaceuticals and Contrave from Orexigen, are destined to enter the FDA approval process soon. Reports are that obese patients who took one of the medications along with reducing calories and exercising lost about 15% of their starting weight in a 12-month period.

Arena Pharmaceuticals Inc’s experimental obesity pill lorcaserin met one of two federal weight-loss goals, a result sufficient to seek US approval of the drug. About 47% of patients on lorcaserin after one year of treatment lost 5% or more of their body weight compared with 25% of those taking a placebo, or dummy pill, Arena said in a statement.

Arena Pharmaceuticals Inc’s experimental obesity pill lorcaserin met one of two federal weight-loss goals, a result sufficient to seek US approval of the drug. About 47 percent of patients on lorcaserin after one year of treatment lost 5 percent or more of their body weight compared with 25 percent of those taking a placebo, or dummy pill, Arena said.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States is seeking to recall 23 different products marketed as for weight loss because they contain undeclared active pharmaceutical substances that may pose serious health risks to consumers. The products are marketed over the Internet and in retail stores, and in some cases are described as “dietary supplements”. Some of the tainted weight loss products are Fatloss Slimming, 2 Day Diet, 3x Slimming Power, Japan Lingzhi 24 Hours Diet, 3 Day Diet, 7 Day Herbal Slim, 999 Fitness Essence, Extrim Plus and GMP.

The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has given positive opinion as a non-prescription product to GlaxoSmithKline’s alli (orlistat 60 mg). This takes the product to the stage of proposal for final approval by the European Commission. A marketing authorization will follow that. On the grant of license, alli 60 mg would become the first aid for weight loss to be available without prescription across Europe. It will be indicated for people above the age of 18 with a BMI more than 28 kg/m2.

According to the data from Phase III study of Merck’s taranabant, obese patients taking the drug experienced substantial weight loss when the drug was combined with diet and exercise. Patients who were taking 2 mg of taranabant during the study reported double the weight loss compared to patients being treated with placebo.