In a surprise vote, the FDA Advisory Committee voted to approve Orexigen Therapeutics obesity drug, Contrave. The vote was 13 to 7. This is the first obesity drug to win approval since 1999. The FDA will make the final decision but they usually follow the recommendations of their advisory committees. This opens the door for Vivus to obtain approval since their drug, Qnexa, had a superior efficacy finding. It probably also helps Arena’s lorcaserin to obtain a more favorable decision by the FDA.  See F.D.A. Panel Backs New Diet Pill – NYTimes.com