Boston (SmartAboutHealth) - Orexigen Therapeutics has reported positive results in the first late-stage trial of their experimental obesity drug Contrave, but has failed to meet FDA standards.

The company has been working on this experimental obesity drug for a long time and has reported positive results, but not enough to win full FDA backing.

The trial on the drug was carried out on 791 patients in total.

All of the patients in the study were on a diet and exercise plan, with half taking the drug and half taking the placebo.

The group that was on the drug were able to lose an average of 9.3% of their weight.

This compared to 5.1% of those in the placebo group.

The problem though is that the difference of 4.2% failed to mee the FDA standards for an obesity drug.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) states obesity drugs need a 5% differential to be effective.

Another trial is planned without the diet and exercise plan.