Withdrawn from the market (safety)
Lorcaserin
BELVIQ
Pronunciation: lor-KA-ser-in
What it isSelective 5-HT2C agonist; obesity. Withdrawn.
Why this oneIts 5-HT2C selectivity was designed to avoid the 5-HT2B valvulopathy of fenfluramine, and it did.
What limits itIt was withdrawn for a cancer signal in long-term follow-up — a different harm from the one it was engineered to avoid.
Lorcaserin prescription history
Animated chart of estimated U.S. prescriptions per year, Obesity meds (1959–2026). Lorcaserin enters in 2013.
FDA-approved for
- obesity (2012 — withdrawn 2020 for cancer signal)
NO BOXED WARNINGS
Principal riskWithdrawn for a cancer signal
Classes and tags
Clinical profile
Legacy pregnancy categoryX
Defining liabilityCancer signal caused market withdrawal
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Self-check
- Why was lorcaserin withdrawn?
A cancer signal in long-term follow-up. - Which receptor selectivity was intended to avoid fenfluramine-like valvulopathy?
5-HT2C rather than 5-HT2B.