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OBESITY

How does lorcaserin facilitate weight loss and who will benefit?

Pharmacotherapy for obesity, as an adjunct to targeted behavioural modifications, can facilitate weight loss. Previous serotonergic candidates have been withdrawn owing to undesirable cardiovascular effects. A new study in a large sample of high-risk patients shows lorcaserin treatment leads to no greater increase in cardiovascular problems than placebo — what does this result mean for personalized pharmacotherapy for obesity?

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Correspondence to Carl A. Roberts.

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J.C.G.H declares associations with AstraZeneca, American Beverage Association, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Novo Nordisk and Orexigen. C.A.R declares no competing interests.

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Roberts, C.A., Halford, J.C.G. How does lorcaserin facilitate weight loss and who will benefit?. Nat Rev Endocrinol 14, 692–693 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41574-018-0109-y

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