What would you peg the likelihood of either/both of these companies getting stomped into atomic gas by hords of gleeful lawyers...

Are you talking about ARNA and VVUS or VVUS and OREX?

Well, we are all here to make money upon approval, what happens 2-3 years down the road is not my concern at this time.  Both of these drugs have problems - Qnexa has side effects,  Lorc has low efficacy.  We are all talking about cure for obesity - 5% weight loss is certainly beneficial but doesn't even come close to cure obesity.  If you add Phen to it the heart rate goes up etc.   Even if all three drugs get approved we still won't have good cure for obesity - just something little to help people who do not have the will power to get out of that misery by life style change alone.