LORCASERIN

june 7, 2013 –Eisai Inc. announced today that BELVIQ (pronounced BEL-VEEK) will be available to eligible patients by prescription in the United States beginning June 11.

BELVIQ was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on June 27, 2012 to be used along with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity for chronic weight management in adults who have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m2 or greater (obese), or BMI of 27 kg/m2 or greater (overweight) with at least one weight-related medical condition such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or type 2 diabetes.  It is not known if BELVIQ is safe and effective when taken with other prescription, over-the-counter, or herbal weight loss products, nor is it known if BELVIQ changes your risk of heart problems or stroke, or of death due to heart problems or stroke.

“BELVIQ is a new treatment option for the medical management of patients who are obese and who have not been able to sustain long-term weight loss by altering their diets or increasing exercise alone,” said Lonnel Coats, President and Chief Executive Officer, Eisai Inc. “Eisai is committed to making BELVIQ available to appropriate patients as part of our human health care corporate mission of keeping patients’ medical needs at the forefront of all that we do.”

BELVIQ will be available in U.S. pharmacies only with a prescription. Patients are cautioned not to buy BELVIQ from parties offering BELVIQ without a valid prescription from their doctor.  Eisai will market and distribute BELVIQ in the United States and Arena Pharmaceuticals will manufacture and supply the finished commercial product from its facility in Switzerland.

“BELVIQ provides appropriate patients with a new treatment option that along with diet and exercise can help them lose weight and keep the weight off,” said Ken Fujioka, M.D., Director of the Center for Weight Management at the Scripps Clinic. “Obesity needs to be recognized and treated as a chronic disease. The availability of BELVIQ is a significant milestone in the medical management of overweight and obesity as we work to slow this epidemic in the United States.”

Lorcaserin (APD-356, trade name upon approval Belviq,expected trade name during development, Lorqess) is a weight-loss drug developed by Arena Pharmaceuticals. It has serotonergic properties and acts as an anorectic. On 22 December 2009 a New Drug Application (NDA) was submitted to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States.On 16 September 2010, an FDA advisory panel voted to recommend against approval of the drug based on concerns over both safety and efficacy. In October 2010, the FDA stated that it could not approve the application for lorcaserin in its present form.

On 10 May 2012, after a new round of studies submitted by Arena, an FDA panel voted to recommend lorcaserin with certain restrictions and patient monitoring. The restrictions include patients with a BMI of over 30, or with a BMI over 27 and a comorbidity like high blood pressure or type 2 diabetes.

On 27 June 2012, the FDA officially approved lorcaserin for use in the treatment of obesity for adults with a BMI equal to or greater than 30 or adults with a BMI of 27 or greater who “have at least one weight-related health condition, such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol”.

On 07 May 2013, the US Drug Enforcement Administration has classified lorcaserin as a Schedule IV drug^[10] under the Controlled Substances Act.

About BELVIQ (lorcaserin HCl) CIV Tablets

BELVIQ is believed to decrease food consumption and promote satiety by selectively activating serotonin 2C receptors in the brain. The exact mechanism of action of BELVIQ is not known.  BELVIQ is a federally controlled substance (CIV) because it may be abused or lead to drug dependence. For more information about BELVIQ,