Vivus Up 100% After Receiving Positive Panel Vote for Qnexa

Shares of Vivus

are up 100% after the company received a positive FDA panel vote for its weight loss drug Qnexa. The company announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Endocrinologic and Metabolic Drugs Advisory Committee recommended Qnexa be granted marketing approval by the FDA for the treatment of obesity in adults. The Committee voted 20 to 2, on the recommendation for an approval based on a favorable benefit-risk profile. "We are pleased with the panel's approval recommendation in support of the safety and efficacy of Qnexa," said Peter Tam, President of VIVUS. "We look forward to working with the FDA as they complete their evaluation. Obesity is a serious medical condition, and we are committed to making Qnexa available and providing physicians with a new medical treatment option in their battle with this public health epidemic."