BRIEF—Weight management drug approval widened to include older children

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a supplemental indication for Qsymia (phentermine/topiramate extended-release capsules) for chronic weight management in pediatric patients aged 12 years and older who are obese.

In order to be eligible for treatment, these children must be defined as a body mass index of 95th percentile or greater when standardized for age and sex. The drug should be used as additional therapy to reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.

Qsymia was developed by Vivus, a California pharmaceutical company. It was approved in the USA to treat obese adults in 2012.