By Carey Rossi on February 3, 2011 in
Sorry, Contrave, but it's a no-go. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) failed to approve the latest pharmaceutical weight loss hope; however, in an unprecedented move, like parents who want their child to do something, it hung a carrot in the manufacturer's face. To earn approval, Orexigen Therapeutics must first do a long-term clinical trial demonstrating that Contrave does not increase heart attack risk -- a request that could cost the company tens of thousands of dollars and years to complete.
And just as older siblings pave the way for younger ones, Contrave's pulled-from-the-pharmacy-shelves predecessors may have influenced the FDA's decision to reject the application but encourage further study. Unfortunately, this move may also squash the pharmaceutical weight loss industry for good, as Contrave is the third diet pill (out of three) in the last few months to get rejected by the FDA.
For more in-depth coverage of Contrave's fall from grace, see this article from the New York Times.
For a history lesson, check out our blog post: Searching for the Magic Bullet.