UPDATE 1-US FDA panel to review Orexigen obesity drug

WASHINGTON, June 23 (Reuters) - A U.S. advisory panel is set to review an experimental obesity-fighting drug from Orexigen Therapeutics Inc in December, the company said on Wednesday.

Orexigen, in a statement, said the Food and Drug Administration tentatively scheduled a committee meeting on the drug, Contrave, for Dec. 7.

The FDA often asks advisory panels for input before deciding whether to approve a new medicine. The panels are groups of experts from outside the agency.

A final FDA ruling on Contrave is due by Jan. 31, 2011 the company said.

Contrave combines the antidepressant bupropion with naltrexone, which is used to treat alcoholism.

(Editing by Bernard Orr) Keywords: OREXIGEN CONTRAVE/ ([e-mail]; [phone]; Reuters Messaging: [e-mail]) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2010. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.