VIVUS, Inc.' Experimental Diet Drug Keeps Weight Off for 2 Years

An experimental diet drug seems to help some obese people shed pounds, and keep them off for two years, researchers report. The drug, which will be called Qnexa if it reaches the market, is a combination of the appetite suppressant phentermine and the anti-seizure drug topiramate. So far, it's had a bumpy road to approval. Last year, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rejected Qnexa, citing safety concerns -- including elevated heart rate in some users and the potential for birth defects if pregnant women used the drug.