Investopedia: Vivus Tries A New Path

If at first you don't succeed, keep trying until the money runs out. That would seem to be the underlying strategy at Vivus (Nasdaq:VVUS), as this biotech continues to try to find a successful path to FDA approval for its obesity drug Qnexa. With news that the FDA may be more amenable to a different label, investors may have some reason for cautious optimism that a new obesity drug could actually hit the market within the next 12-18 months.

If You Can't Beat 'em, Avoid 'em  
One of the issues that has held up FDA approval of Qnexa (a new combination of previously approved drugs phentermine and topiramate) is the known birth defect risks of topiramate and the possibility that this new combination drug could have similar (or perhaps even worse) risks of teratogenicity. What makes this issue more complicated, though, is the fact that much of the birth defect data on topiramate was generated from women who also had epilepsy - and epilepsy is a known risk factor for birth defects.


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