The Latest Non-Event for Obesity Drugs

Updated

When it comes to drug approvals, faster is always better, right?

That doesn't appear to be the case for Orexigen (NAS: OREX) , who recently disclosed that it might be able to resubmit a New Drug Application to the Food and Drug Administration for its obesity drug, Contrave, before the completion of its newest phase 3 trial. The company's stock jumped briefly on the news, as this scenario could speed up the approval process for the drug. The positive mood was short-lived, however, and the stock has continued to trail lower in recent days along with peers Vivus (NAS: VVUS) and Arena Pharmaceuticals (NAS: ARNA) .

In the following video, health care bureau chief Brenton Flynn runs through the Orexigen news and the mixed signals coming from regulators on each side of the Atlantic.


When it comes to do-or-die business, the biotech industry takes the cake. Arena Pharmaceuticals is one recent success story in the industry after gaining FDA approval for its innovative obesity drug. While the future looks bright for Arena, there are still plenty of obstacles ahead. In our brand new premium research report on Arena Pharmaceuticals, we walk investors through the must-know opportunities and threats facing the company. Since key news can develop quickly, we're also including a full year of updates for those who sign up. Click here now to learn more.

The article The Latest Non-Event for Obesity Drugs originally appeared on Fool.com.

Brenton Flynn has no positions in the stocks mentioned above. The Motley Fool has no positions in the stocks mentioned above. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Copyright © 1995 - 2012 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Advertisement