"Regulatory agencies and physicians have become increasingly concerned about psychiatric side effects following rimonabant's recent withdrawal from the European market in 2008 because of - among other issues - elevated risk for depression associated with its use," said Decision Resources Therapeutic Area Director Donny Wong, Ph.D. "Previously, regulatory concern had focused on long-term cardiovascular safety following the withdrawal in 1997 of Wyeth's Redux and Pondimin due to cardiac abnormalities associated with these therapies."
The report also finds that although fixed-dose combination agents such as Vivus's Qnexa and Orexigen Therapeutics' Contrave and Empatic are generating some interest among physicians owing to their improved efficacy over currently marketed therapies, most interviewed experts remain concerned about the potential CNS side effects associated with these drugs.
Source: decisionresources