Lorcaserin hydrochloride

Description

In June 2012, the US FDA approved lorcaserin for chronic weight management in adult patients who are characterized as overweight or obese and have at least one comorbid, weight-related condition. Lorcaserin (also known as APD356) is the first 5-HT_2C agonist approved for chronic weight management since the withdrawal of the 5-HT_2C agonist fenfluramine in 1997 due to rare cases of cardiac valvulopathy. The serotonin receptor 5-HT_2C is found primarily in the hypothalamus and regulates appetite and feeding behavior. Safety issues with fenfluramine were associated with poor selectivity for 5-HT_2C versus 5HT_2A and 5HT_2B. Ring constraint afforded by the benzazepine in lorcaserin improved selectivity for 5HT_2C by over 2 log units.

The Uses of Lorcaserin hydrochloride

Lorcaserin hydrochloride, a novel antiobesity drug, is a selective serotonin 5-HT2C receptor agonist, approved by FDA in 2012.