North Carolina Belviq Lawyers

Belviq is a prescription weight loss drug prescribed to help people who were struggling to lose weight. But Belviq has been withdrawn from the market because of an increased risk of cancer among patients taking the drug. Have you been diagnosed with cancer after regularly taking Belviq? You should speak with a Belviq cancer attorney about your legal options. You may be entitled to join a Belviq class action lawsuit and seek compensation for your medical expenses related to cancer treatment and for the anguish you felt about your cancer diagnosis.

The attorneys at Hardison & Cochran are representing people in North Carolina who have been harmed by Belviq. Patients should be able to trust that the prescription medicines they take are safe when used as intended. When drug manufacturers put medications on the market that cause harmful side effects, they should be held accountable for the injuries caused. You may be entitled to file a Belviq cancer lawsuit or join a Belviq class action lawsuit.

Our attorneys at Hardison & Cochran are currently reviewing possible Belviq cancer claims. If you are undergoing cancer treatment or have been diagnosed with cancer, we recognize that you are going through an extremely difficult time. You do not have to face the ordeal alone. Our attorneys can prepare a Belviq cancer lawsuit, while you focus on your health and recovery. A Belviq cancer settlement could help provide some financial stability if you are unable to work.

What is Belviq and Its Generic Version Lorcaserin?

Belviq, known generically as lorcaserin, is a pill intended to help obese patients lose weight and maintain weight loss. Belviq was often prescribed in conjunction with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity for chronic weight management in obese adult patients.

Obesity has become a major worldwide health problem in recent years. More than two thirds of adults in the U.S. are either overweight or obese. Belviq affects chemical signals in an area of the brain known as the hypothalamus, which controls appetite. It makes users have a feeling of fullness, so they eat smaller meals.

The drug was developed by Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc, a California biopharmaceutical company in conjunction with Eisai Co. Ltd. Belviq came in two formulations, a 10 mg tablet taken twice a day, and Belviq XR, a once-daily extended release version.

In 2017, Eisai Co. Ltd., headquartered in Tokyo, announced that it had reached an agreement with Arena Pharmaceuticals to take over all Arena’s rights to develop and market Belviq.

In 2020, Belviq has been discontinued in the United States because of serious safety concerns.

FDA Timeline of Belviq Recall

In June 2012, the Food and Drug Administration approved Belviq (lorcaserin) for use in the U.S. in conjunction with other weight loss strategies such as exercise. Launched in the U.S. in June 2013, Belviq was the first weight loss drug approved in the U.S. in more than a decade, according to Eisai.

As a condition of the approval, the FDA required that the manufacturer of Belviq conduct follow-up clinical studies to evaluate the potential of heart problems among users of the weight loss drug. The large post-marketing study lasted five years and involved 12,000 overweight men and women. The Belviq post-marketing clinical study wrapped up in 2018 and the study results were published initially in the New England Journal of Medicine.

In January 2020, the FDA announced that it was reviewing the results of the clinical trial involving Belviq. It alerted the public about a possible Belviq cancer risk.

The clinical trial showed no difference in the risk of cardiovascular events among the patients taking Belviq or a placebo. However, it revealed that more patients taking Belviq (locaserin) were diagnosed with cancer compared to patients taking a placebo.

In February 2020, the FDA requested that the manufacturer of Belviq and Belviq XR voluntarily withdraw the weight loss drug from the U.S. market. The FDA said it was requesting the Belviq recall, also known as the locaserin recall, because the risks of taking the weight loss drug outweigh the benefits. The FDA said patients should stop taking the medication and talk to their doctors about alternative weight loss medications or strategies.

In February 2020, Eisai, Inc., the manufacturer of Belviq, announced that it was voluntarily discontinuing sales of Belviq and Belviq XR in the U.S. Eisai notified retailers of an urgent drug withdrawal for Belviq and Belviq XR at the request of the FDA.

Cancers Associated with Belviq

The FDA said that a range of cancers had been reported among patients taking Belviq. The FDA said that several types of cancers occurred more commonly among patients taking the weight loss drug. They include:

• Pancreatic cancer
• Colorectal cancer
• Lung cancer

The FDA said the difference in rates of occurrence of cancer became more apparent among patients who had taken Belviq for longer periods of time. There was no apparent difference in cancer rates for patients during the initial months of treatment with Belviq.

Most prescription medications have some risks. But the FDA determined that the risks associated with taking Belviq outweighed the health benefits. A drug manufacturer may be sued if a drug caused harm, even if the manufacturer did not know of the risk.

Do I Qualify for a Belviq Lawsuit?

People who have been prescribed Belviq and developed cancer may be eligible to file a Belviq cancer lawsuit or join a Belviq class action lawsuit. Pharmaceutical companies have a legal duty to manufacture and market products that are safe and effective when used properly as directed. When medications cause unintended adverse effects, the drug maker may be held liable. The first step is to understand whether you qualify.

If you were prescribed Belviq and have been diagnosed with lung cancer, colorectal cancer, pancreatic cancer or another type of cancer, you should consult with a knowledgeable and compassionate attorney at Hardison & Cochran about your legal options. Our experienced attorneys can help you seek compensation from the manufacturer of Belviq.

The types of damages that may be sought in a Belviq cancer lawsuit include compensation for:

• Current and future medical expenses associated with cancer treatment
• Lost income if you cannot work
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional anguish and loss of enjoyment of life
• Permanent disability
• Wrongful death.

Our attorneys at Hardison & Cochran would like to speak with you if you have been prescribed Belviq or Belviq XR and been diagnosed with cancer. Hardison & Cochran offers a free case consultation to review your medical diagnosis and discuss your legal options.

Dangerous drug cases are complicated and require the assistance of an experienced product liability attorney. Hardison & Cochran has been providing legal representation to clients in North Carolina for more than 30 years.

Contact an NC Belviq Lawsuit Attorney

The attorneys at Hardison & Cochran handle dangerous drug cases on a contingency basis so there are no upfront costs to purse a Belviq cancer claim. Our attorneys only receive a legal fee if we are successful in obtaining money for your through a negotiated settlement or court award.

Keep in mind that the statute of limitations allows only a limited amount of time to file a product liability lawsuit against the manufacturer of a defective drug. That makes it important to consult with an attorney as soon as possible to determine whether you have a valid claim. If so, the prescription drug lawsuit attorneys at Hardison & Cochran can start gathering evidence such as medical records to support your injury claim against the manufacturer of Belviq.

Contact us for a free and confidential legal consultation about your Belviq cancer lawsuit as soon as possible by calling 1-800-738-0449, or use our online contact form.