Positive vote for Lorqess (and Qnexa) is no guarantee of obe$ity $uccess
This article was originally published in Scrip
Executive Summary
Arena's Lorqess (lorcaserin) has moved one step closer to approval for the treatment of obesity following a positive review by the FDA advisory committee. The result came as a surprise to some, after the drug was rejected in 2010 due to safety concerns. Despite the good news for Arena Pharmaceuticals, the drug's commercial prospects remain uncertain: the path to launch is unclear, and uptake may be slow.
You may also be interested in...
Price cuts put pressure on South Korean pharma
The South Korean pharmaceutical market was valued at around $11 billion in 2010 with 10% growth forecast through 2014, driven by a rapidly ageing population, increasing prevalence of chronic disease, harmonisation with international standards and strengthening international trade relationships.
2011 Scrip 100: Asian-flavoured pharma deals
Expanding healthcare coverage in emerging Asia-Pacific (APAC) markets, rapid economic development and burgeoning middle classes are driving growth for APAC-based pharmaceutical companies and attracting foreign companies attempting to offset future losses from the looming 2011 'patent cliff'. Erin Brady, healthcare analyst at Datamonitor, examines how companies are using mergers and acquisitions to strengthen their presence in this booming region.