FDA Has Concerns With New Obesity Drug, Qnexa

Qnexa, a new obesity drug pending final approval from the FDA panel this Thursday, is a first in obesity medicine in a decade. This drug, designed to help control appetite and ultimately shed pounds has raised several warning flags at the Food and Drug Administration already. However, many people, especially on Wall Street, believe that the FDA will approve the drug anyways because the market for this product is so vast.

FDA reports show that Qnexa has potentially bad side effects on the heart. Increased heart rate, depression, adverse effects on pregnant women and memory and language problems were noted during testing. Attention span also seems to decrease with usage. Researchers believe this may be cause by the amphetamine part of the drug.

Qnexa is a two part drug. It is part amphetamine and part anti-convulsive. Working off the former Fen-Phen formula, Vivus the makers of the new drug, made this new weight loss formula hoping for it to not have the same effects of its predecessor. The former was banned from the market when it was found to cause irreversible heart damage.

Investors are carefully watching the final report that will be issued by the FDA on Thursday. If approved, the pill could make it to store shelves immediately. There are two other obesity drugs that are scheduled for final approval at the FDA during the later part of this year. Both of the other companies are watching the results about Qnexa carefully to see if they have a chance for approval.