Orexigen's
You'll recall that the Food and Drug Administration rejected Contrave in 2011, requesting a cardiovascular outcomes trial to rule out possible heart problems. The agency originally wanted a humongous trial, but later conceded that a smaller trial would suffice. With the quick enrollment, Orexigen is gaining ground on Arena Pharmaceuticals
As a small conciliation for being behind, Orexigen has effectively taken the patients in the Light Study off the market as potential customers for the currently approved drugs. Vertex Pharmaceuticals
The faster-than-expected enrollment for the Light Study is a clear sign that there's demand to pop a pill to lose weight, but there's a caveat: In the Light Study, patients get Contrave for free. Patients taking Arena's Belviq and VIVUS' Qsymia will have to pay for the drug. According to CNBC's Ruth Coxeter, the wholesale price of the Qsymia will be $120 per month and more for the higher dose.
That's a lot more than your average gym membership. Sure, popping a pill is less work, but substantial weight loss is going to come from diet and exercise combined with taking the medication. Lazy patients trying to take the easy way aren't likely to stay on the drug for very long if they're paying full price.
It seems to me that the key to getting Belviq and Qsymia to blockbuster status is to convince the insurance companies to cover the drugs. If patients are only paying the cost of their copay to get their medication each month, they might be willing to stay on the drug even if they're only experiencing minor weight loss.
Otherwise, expect light sales.
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