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If you could take a pill that would safely help you lose weight without harmful side effects, wouldn't you buy it. Seeing as how weight loss is a multi-billion dollar industry in the US, the safe bet is to say yes, most people would. That's what several pharmaceutical companies are aiming to find, and what's making their work difficult is the search for a drug that isn't harmful. Most recently, Qnexa was denied FDA approval pending further information.
According to Reuters, the US FDA told Vivus, the pharmaceutical company behind the development of Qnexa, that they needed more information about the medicine before approving it. However, rather than asking for new clinical trials, the FDA asked that the company provide additional information to show that the drug's tendency to increase heart rates doesn't increase the risk of major cardiovascular troubles. The AP has reported that patients lost over 10% of their total body mass on the drug, double that of current drugs on the market like Xenical from Roche. Other reported side effects included suicidal thoughts, memory lapses, and birth defects.
Other medicines have met a similar fate. Meridia from Abbott Laboratories was voluntarily pulled from the market earlier this month after FDA review showed a 16% increased risk for serious heart related events. The weight loss drug Lorcaserin was denied FDA approval in September after a panel voted 9 to 5 against it saying that the modest weight loss effect didn't make up for several questions about health risks it poses.
