Belviq^® Lawsuits

Trustwell Law is accepting cases from people who have taken Belviq or Belviq XR (lorcaserin HCl) for weight loss and been diagnosed with cancer.

The FDA approved lorcaserin, brand name Belviq, for sale in 2012. Analysis of the data collected in a five-year study showed a higher incidence of cancer in participants who took Belviq than those in the control group. A range of cancers was found, with pancreatic, colorectal, and lung cancer reported more often in patients who took Belviq. Colorectal cancer is also known as colon cancer, bowel cancer, or rectal cancer.

If you or a loved one used the weight-loss drug Belviq and have been diagnosed with cancer, contact us for a free consultation. You may be entitled to compensation for medical and care expenses, lost work, and emotional pain and suffering. Our experienced attorneys take a personalized, compassionate approach. We cut through the legalese and partner with our clients. We have access to the expertise, resources, and manpower to fully investigate each case and fight for and with our clients against the big corporations to seek the justice they deserve.

If you are considering filing a Belviq lawsuit, contact us at 800-796-1636 or submit your details online. A member of our legal team will contact you shortly.

Belviq History

The FDA approved Belviq for sale in 2012. The FDA also required Eisai, Belviq’s manufacturer, to conduct a 5-year 12,000-patient study to evaluate the drug’s effect on the heart as a condition for its approval. That study concluded that Belviq helped users lose weight and keep the weight off without also raising their risk for heart problems.

The data from that testing showed that almost half the participants who took Belviq lost at least 5 percent of their weight over the course of a year. Almost a quarter of the participants lost at least 10 percent of their weight over a year.

FDA Analysis of Study Shows Cancer Risk Increase

The FDA recently finished analyzing the data from the Belviq study. That analysis found that over 7.7 percent of those who took Belviq were diagnosed with cancer, compared to slightly more than 7.1 percent of the control group participants. A range of cancers was diagnosed, but pancreatic, lung, and colorectal cancer were reported more often in the patients who took Belviq.

FDA Requests Belviq’s Withdrawal from the Market

Based on the analysis showing that participants who took Belviq had an increased risk of developing lung, pancreatic, or colon cancer, the FDA issued a safety warning about Belviq in January 2020, but then in February 2020 requested that Eisai withdraw the drug from the market. Their statement said, in part, that the “potential risk of cancer outweighs the benefits” that Belviq could bring.

In February 2020, Eisai Inc. announced that it was voluntarily withdrawing Belviq from the market. Their statement also said that the company does not agree with the FDA’s conclusions. The company believes that Belviq’s benefits outweigh the risks.

FDA Instructions Concerning Belviq Recall

The FDA has now instructed health-care providers to stop prescribing Belviq and to contact their patients who take the drug to tell them of the increased cancer risk and advise them to stop taking Belviq. The FDA announcement also instructs health-care providers to discuss alternative drugs or weight-loss strategies with those patients.

To those who are using Belviq, the FDA announcement advises that they stop taking the drug and discuss alternatives with their health-care professionals. The FDA is not advising special cancer screening for people who have taken Belviq but does suggest they talk to their doctors about any questions or concerns.

The FDA also has advised that unused Belviq be returned to a drug take-back location or, if none is available, that you:

1. Mix the pills, without crushing them, with unappetizing or unappealing trash, such as cat litter, used coffee grounds, or dirt.
2. Place the mixture of pills and the substance you chose in a container, such as a sealable plastic bag.
3. Throw that container into your trash.
4. Then take the pill bottle, remove the label or any identifying information, and dispose of it, too.