Zafgen says second patient dies in obesity drug trial

[December 02, 2015] (Reuters) - Drug developer Zafgen Inc said a second patient died in a late-stage trial of its experimental obesity drug, this time from a blockage in an artery in the lung.

The company said it is discussing with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on the next steps for beloranib, its lead drug candidate.

The company said in October a patient had died in the trial, but the cause of death was unknown.

Zafgen is developing beloranib to treat a rare genetic eating disorder called Prader-Willi syndrome.

The FDA placed a partial clinical hold on studies involving the drug after the death in October, citing previously reported blood clotting in ongoing and completed studies.

The company's shares were untraded before the opening bell on Wednesday.

(Reporting by Vidya L Nathan in Bengaluru; Editing by Saumyadeb Chakrabarty)

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