Effect of lorcaserin in different age groups: a post hoc analysis of patients from the BLOOM, BLOSSOM and BLOOM-DM studies.

INTRODUCTION

The elderly population is projected to be the fastest growing group of individuals with obesity group in the United States. As such, there is merit in examining factors that contribute to healthy aging and weight management. The effects of newer weight loss medications approved after 2013 have been studied but are not often assessed specifically in older persons.

METHODS

This post hoc analysis evaluated the magnitude of weight loss in adults across age quartiles with lorcaserin, a serotonin (5-HT) 2C receptor agonist indicated as an adjunct to a reduced-caloric diet and increased physical activity for chronic weight management. Data from three lorcaserin pivotal phase 3 studies were used in this analysis. Data for patients with overweight/obesity without type 2 diabetes (T2D; BLOOM/BLOSSOM; body mass index [BMI] 27.0-29.9 kg/m and ≥1 comorbidity or BMI 30.0-45.0 kg/m) and patients with overweight/obesity with T2D (BLOOM-DM; BMI 27.0-45.0 kg/m) were used. Patients were randomized to receive lorcaserin 10 mg twice daily or placebo in addition to diet and exercise for 52 weeks. Age quartiles between the studies differed as the T2D population was on average, 9 years older.

RESULTS

This analysis shows that lorcaserin was associated with improved weight loss relative to placebo regardless of age. Importantly, these results were consistent for patients with and without T2D. Interestingly, the magnitude of weight loss for lorcaserin appeared to increase with increasing age. In patients without T2D, odds of achieving ≥5% and ≥10% reduction in body weight at 52 weeks were significantly higher for patients >36 years. Lorcaserin was well tolerated in all patients across all quartiles including the oldest quartile.

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, this post hoc analysis demonstrates that lorcaserin treatment in patients with and without T2D was safe and effective at reducing weight across all age groups analysed. Weight loss appeared to be greater for older patients; additional analyses are warranted to confirm these findings and to better understand the factors for improved weight loss.