Orexigen(R) Therapeutics Phase 2b Trial for Empatic(TM) Meets Primary Efficacy Endpoint Demonstrating Significantly Greater Weight Loss Versus Comparators in Obes...(r. Importantly Empatic patients continu...),Health

"Obesity is a complex disease that is challenging to treat. What works for one patient may not work for another, making it critical to have a broad spectrum of interventions available for physicians and their patients," said Caroline Apovian, M.D., Director of the Center for Nutrition and Weight Management, Boston Medical Center. "These Phase 2 data show impressive weight loss among patients treated with Empatic and support further investigation to determine the full potential of Empatic."

These data follow the announcement by the Company in July 2009 that Phase 3 trials evaluating Contrave® (bupropion SR/naltrexone SR), its lead investigational drug for the treatment of obesity, met their co-primary endpoints, exceeding the FDA categorical efficacy benchmark for clinically significant weight loss. The Company remains on track to file a New Drug Application (NDA) for Contrave with the FDA in the first half of 2010.

Phase 2b Empatic Trial Design and Results

This 24-week, double-blind, randomized trial evaluated 729 patients from 20 sites
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