Yesterday, the FDA Advisory Committee voted strongly in favor of approving Lorcaserin, for the treatment of obesity. Previously, our group felt that ARNA’s Lorcaserin along with OREX’s Contrave would eventually gain regulatory approval, but that there would be some delay. In the case of ARNA, we were impressed at how eager the Advisory Committee was […]
VVUS, OREX, ARNA – Understanding the Advisory Committee
Playing VVUS, OREX, ARNA through FDA Adcomm and Qnexa PDUFA Over the past several months, these three companies, with their respective late-stage anti-obesity drug candidates, have experienced a considerable increase in volatility and share price, due in part to new regulatory revelations regarding clinical pathways to regulatory approval. We believe there will continued volatility leading […]
VVUS – Vivus Pharmaceuticals – Initiating Covereage – Neutral
Vivus (VVUS), is a specialty pharmaceutical company with two lead product candidates that are facing a regulatory decision within the next 6 months. Besides two PDUFA dates, VVUS also has an FDA Advisory Committee Meeting and results from a key study, dubbed FORTRESS, due out in the coming days. The most anticipated drug candidate […]
Orexigen’s Contrave- Making Waves Beyond Obesity Drugs
The success of Orexigen’s weight loss drug, Contrave, with the FDA advisory panel highlights an important area in drug development- repositioning. Orexigen accomplished this by combining the off-patent drugs bupropion and naltrexone in a novel single pill fixed dose formulation. Bupropion is an antidepressant and smoking cessation drug while naltrexone is used to treat alcoholism […]
Orexigen’s Contrave Receives Panel Backing- Great News For Vivus
In a shock to watchers of recent developments in the area of weight loss drugs, the FDA panel of expert advisors voted 13 to 7 recommending the approval of Contrave from Orexigen. They also voted 11 to 8 with one member abstaining, that a long-term cardiovascular study should be conducted after approval of the drug. […]
