Multicentre, placebo-controlled trial of lorcaserin for weight management in Chinese population

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of lorcaserin on body weight, cardiovascular risk factors, and safety in obese patients in Taiwan.

In this double-blind, randomised controlled trial, 171 obese adults were assigned to receive lorcaserin at a dose of 10mg, or placebo, twice a day for 24weeks. Diet and exercise counselling were given to all patients through the treatment period. Primary outcomes were proportion of patients achieving at least 5% and 10% reduction in body weight and mean change in body weight. Safety and tolerability endpoints such as Beck Depression Inventory-II, blood biochemistry, vital signs, and electrocardiogram were monitored.

More patients receiving lorcaserin lost at least 5% body weight than receiving placebo (52.4% and 28.1%, P=0.001) with an average weight reduction of 5.8kg (95% CI: -6.91, -4.70) in lorcaserin group and those of 3.6kg (95% CI: -4.95, -2.33) in placebo group (P<0.05). The most common adverse effect with greater incidence in the lorcaserin group was self-limited dizziness. Serious adverse effect were rare and was reported by slightly more patients taking placebo than lorcaserin.

In this multicentre, double-blinded placebo-controlled trial, lorcaserin was effective and well-tolerable in Asia group.