Kudos for Contrave

For the first time in over a decade the Federal Advisory Committee has recommended the approval for a prescription diet pill. The drug is called Contrave and is developed by Orexigen Therapeutics of San Diego. It is rare for pharmaceutical companies to gain approval for drugs trying to combat America's problem with obesity. Most diet pills are burdened with the increased risks of heart attacks and strokes. According to an article written by Andrew Pollack,

With Contrave, the big issue was that the drug had only modest effectiveness while also causing a slight increase in blood pressure and pulse rate. That could conceivably raise the risk of heart attacks and strokes, though the trials conducted by Orexigen were too small and too short to determine that.

Both the FDA and the company agreed that further testing for heart attack risk will be done but not till after the drug has been approved. It would take many years to complete the testing before releasing the drug which is why the company wants to do it after. Others argue, though, that the drug could potentially be dangerous and although it will take awhile, it is better off to complete the testing first.