Fat Fighters
Drug companies are working on new medicines that tackle the growing problem of obesity
The pharmaceutical industry has struggled to come up with an obesity treatment that produces meaningful weight loss without scary side effects. Here's a look at what's available and what may be on the way.
XenicalCompany: Roche (RMMBY) Status: On the market since 1999 How It Works: Prevents about a third of the fat a person eats from being digested Side Effects: Bowel distress |
AlliCompany: GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Status: Sold over the counter since 2007 How It Works: Like Xenical, but at half the strength Side Effects: Bowel distress |
MeridiaCompany: Abbott (ABT) Status: On the market since 1997 How It Works: Affects the part of the brain that makes people feel full, sending a signal to the brain to stop eating Side Effects: High blood pressure, constipation, insomnia |
AcompliaCompany: Sanofi-Aventis (SNY) Status: On sale in 20 countries but not yet in the U.S. An advisory panel to the FDA voted against the drug in 2007, sending Sanofi back to the drawing board to do more studies. How It Works: Acomplia hits the "cannabinoid" receptors in the brain, so named because they create the euphoria people feel when they smoke pot, as well as the munchies that follow. The idea is that blocking those receptors will also halt the munchies. Side Effects: Depression, dizziness, memory loss, and other psychiatric issues |
TaranabantCompany: Merck (MRK) Status: In the final phases of testing before submission to the FDA, expected later this year. How It Works: Like Sanofi's drug, it affects the cannabinoid receptors in the brain. Side Effects: Upset stomach, depression, insomnia |
QnexaCompany: Vivus (VVUS) Status: In the final phases of testing before submission to the FDA How It Works: A combination of phentermine and topiramate suppresses appetite from two different brain pathways Side Effects: Phentermine is an upper, while topiramate causes the brain to slow down. The company hopes the side effects will cancel each other out. |
LorcaserinCompany: Arena (ARNA) Status: In the final phases of testing before submission to the FDA How It Works: Designed to hit the same appetite-suppressing receptors in the brain that the combo fen-phen did, but without causing the heart valve issues that caused fen-phen to be pulled from the market Side Effects: Headache, nausea, dizziness, fatigue |
CP-945598 (No official name yet)Company: Pfizer (PFE) Status: In the final phases of testing before submission to the FDA How It Works: Like Sanofi's and Merck's drugs, it blocks the cannabinoid receptors in the brain. Side Effects: Stomach upset, headache, fatigue, insomnia |
ContraveCompany: Orexigen Status: In the final phases of testing before submission to the FDA How It Works: Combines an anti-addiction drug and an antidepressant, which work together to regulate appetite and energy balance Side Effects: Nausea, headache, dizziness |
Pramlintide/leptinCompany: Amylin (AMLN) Status: In mid-stage testing, with late-stage tests starting in 2009 at the earliest How It Works: A combination of two human hormones that tell the body it's full and doesn't need to pile on any more fat Side Effects: Nausea |