Lorcaserin
Lorcaserin, a selective agonist for the hypothalamic serotonin 2C receptor (5HT2c receptor) was approved by the US FDA for the treatment of obesity for adults with a BMI over 30 or a BMI over 27 with a co-morbidity as type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension or dyslipidaemia. Stimulation of the 5HT2c receptor results in increased POMC (proopiomelanocortin) production in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus which in turn produces alpha MSH which acts on melanocortin 4r receptors (MC4R) in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus to reduce appetite.
BLOOM (Behavioral Modification and Lorcaserin for Over weight and Obesity Management), BLOSSOM and BLOOM-DM were three phase 3 trials involving 3000, 4000 and 604 patients respectively with the BLOOM-DM trial looking at type 2 diabetic patients. It was a 52 week trial which showed significant improvement in HbA1c, but a weight-independent reduction of HbA1c was not clearly demonstrable. A brief summary of the BLOOM trials is available here.
LORCASERIN has now been withdrawn as per the request of the manufacturer!
BLOOM (Behavioral Modification and Lorcaserin for Over weight and Obesity Management), BLOSSOM and BLOOM-DM were three phase 3 trials involving 3000, 4000 and 604 patients respectively with the BLOOM-DM trial looking at type 2 diabetic patients. It was a 52 week trial which showed significant improvement in HbA1c, but a weight-independent reduction of HbA1c was not clearly demonstrable. A brief summary of the BLOOM trials is available here.
LORCASERIN has now been withdrawn as per the request of the manufacturer!