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Belviq, the brand name for the drug lorcaserin, was a popular prescription weight-loss medication that received FDA approval in 2012. The drug worked by altering the brain’s chemical signals that control appetite. Belviq also caused patients to feel full for longer periods of time. In addition to diet and exercise, Belviq was prescribed for patients who were overweight, obese, or dealing with weight-related medical issues.

Years of research linked lorcaserin with an increased risk of cancers, leading the FDA to call for the drug to be removed from the market in 2020. Since then, former Belviq users have filed suit against the manufacturer (Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc.) and the drug’s marketing and distribution company (Eisai, Inc.). The plaintiffs claimed they developed pancreatic, colorectal, lung, or breast cancer after using Belviq.

No multidistrict litigation (MDL) has been created for Belviq lawsuits, so it is difficult to estimate the number of suits that are pending. Individual trials and settlement negotiations are underway, and it has been reported that the defendants are attempting to reach a global settlement to resolve all claims. As suits are eventually settled, Belviq plaintiffs may face healthcare liens from all types of payers.

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