Feeling fat?
Don’t worry, pop a pill.
An anti-obesity pill to be specific, and soon…you’ll be back to your slimline version again. If that seems more than slightly dangerous and also on the wrong side of futuristic, think again. We’re talking the next five years here. Take a look at a new report that says 2007-2012 are going to be an ‘exciting’ and ‘decisive’ period in the development of anti-obesity drugs with experts predicting that this class of drugs will soon be as safe and reliable as anti-hypertensives. In fact, authors are predicting that by 2012, there is going to be an anti-obesity blockbuster.
Its interesting that obesity is being looked at, not just as a personal problem, but an economic problem and even as a financial opportunity. Forget being depressed about not finding ultra-cool plus size clothing, the awful size zero stereotype, low self-esteem or even just not finding a date because you’re fat. This problem has acquired a whole new scale altogether- it’s being compared to a ‘public health time bomb’ which translates to developed countries like the UK probably having to shell out public spend to the tune of £45 billion a year by 2050. The BBC recently reported that obesity cost the
On the other hand, the obesity problem, which is rapidly being described as an epidemic, also provides significant opportunities for pharma companies. Future statistics being bandied about suggest that by 2010, almost 50% of children in North America and 38% of those in the European Union will be overweight. And Anti-Obesity Treatments 2007-2012 says ‘Far-sighted companies are already investing in the high potential of the anti-obesity market.
The anti-obesity drug market has its drawbacks though. For instance, the public isn’t really convinced about the safety and efficacy of these drugs. And neither it seems, are the authorities. The Food and Drug Administration advisory panel rejected Sanofi-Aventis’ obesity drug Zimulti unanimously on the basis of concerns it may increase suicidal thinking and depression.
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February 28th, 2008 at 10:16 pm
After reading this, I can see why people keep leaving comments. I hope this isn’t rejected, cause i would really like to read more. Can you post some more good literature?
February 29th, 2008 at 5:49 pm
Athersys reports encouraging Phase I results of obesity drug
Biopharmaceutical firm Athersys has reported positive top-line results from its randomized, double-blinded, placebo controlled Phase I clinical trial of ATHX-105, its orally administered drug candidate for the treatment of obesity.
ATHX-105 was well-absorbed, providing good drug exposures, well-tolerated up to high doses, and had no negative effect on cardiovascular, hematology or other clinical parameters. Drug exposure and maximum drug concentrations were dose proportionate. In the fed-fasted cohort, food consumption had no apparent effect on drug exposure.
Gil Van Bokkelen, chairman and CEO of Athersys, said: “The data is in line with our expectations for ATHX-105, a highly selective 5HT2c agonist. We believe that these results support the view that better selectivity results in superior tolerability for drugs in this class, which is an important factor for achieving effectiveness and patient compliance.”