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If Orexigen Disappears, Who's Left In The Obesity Market?

 
• By Mandy Jackson

Orexigen, one of just five biopharma companies with an obesity product on the market, has become concerned about its ability to stay in business. Even so, the misfortune of several firms hasn't dissuaded others, including Novo Nordisk, from investing in the potentially large weight-loss market.

Business decline

Orexigen Therapeutics Inc. had big plans for reinvigorating its weight-loss drug Contrave (naltrexone and buproprion), but now the company is worried about its ability to stay in business beyond next year, which could provide an opportunity for other players in the obesity market to grab market share.

San Diego-based Orexigen's aggressive marketing campaign since it regained full rights to Contrave last year pushed sales higher during the first half of 2017, but it appears that revenue slid lower in the third quarter, raising internal doubts about the company's ability to continue as a going concern. Obesity drugs from Vivus Inc. and Arena Pharmaceuticals Inc

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