Washington, DCAn FDA advisory committee has voted 13-7 in favor of approving a new diet drug designed to aid weight loss.
Made by Orexigen, the drug, if approved on January 31, 2011, will be marketed under the name Contrave. The diet pill is a combination of two drugs which have been on the market for roughly 25 years – Bupropion – also known as Wellbutrin and Naltraexone. Wellbutrin is commonly prescribed for the treatment of depression and smoking cessation. Naltrexone is used to treat opioid and alcohol addictions.
As a result of recent controversies with weight loss drugs such as Meridia, which was recently pulled from the market because of its adverse event profile, any new weight loss drug will undergo close scrutiny. One of the potential issues with Contrave causing concern seen is an increase in blood pressure corresponding with increased weight loss.
"I am most distressed about this particular adverse effect," committee member Jules Hirsch, MD, of Rockefeller University in New York City told WebMD. "There needs to be very, very careful attention if this drug is approved." Committee members also expressed concern over the lack of long-term safety data on Contrave.