Obesity drug Acomplia available on prescription in UK

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A groundbreaking once-a-day pill is set to revolutionise the fight against
obesity.

The drug called Acomplia can cut bodyweight by up to 10 per cent in a year
and significantly reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes.

The pill is the first to stop people eating by interfering with a part of
the brain involved in cravings.


British patients will be the first in the world to benefit from it following
its UK launch yesterday.

Experts say the £2-a-day pill will be a valuable tool to help tackle soaring
rates of obesity by reducing people's desire to overeat and targeting
dangerous abdominal fat.

But there will be concerns about the 'medicalisation' of obesity and whether
patients will consider the drug an easy way to slim.

There are also fears that some people who are underweight or anorexic may
try to obtain it illegally on the blackmarket without prescription.

Acomplia, also known as rimonabant, is licensed for people who are medically
classed as obese - around 10million people in the UK.

The drug will also be given to people who are overweight, but already have
type 2 diabetes or diagnosed cholesterol problems.

In Britain it is estimated more than two million people have type 2
diabetes.

It is available only on prescription from today and costs £55.20 for a
month's supply.

In all cases people must have already tried diet and exercise to shed excess
weight before getting the drug and continue with such efforts while on the
pill.

In trials when overweight people took a daily 20 mg pill, up to 40 per cent
of them lost 10 per cent of their body weight, much of it from around their
waist.

The drug also boosted levels of protective good cholesterol, while lowering
harmful blood fats, and helped diabetics improve control of their blood
sugar levels.

The pill works by interfering with a system in the body that controls energy
levels, regulates body weight plus breaks down sugars and fats.

When people regularly eat too much the system goes into overdrive and this
encourage the body to store more fat, especially around the stomach.

The pill blocks a key part of the system, reducing the cravings for food and
helping prevent fat being deposited.

According to the makers French firm Sanofi-Aventis, the benefits do not just
come from the weight loss.

This is because the pill targets fat around the waist, which is known to
particularly raise the risk of diabetes and heart problems.

Henry Purcell, head of obesity research at the Royal Brompton Hospital in
London, warned that obesity levels in Britain are now at epidemic
proportions with rates among adults having doubled since the 1980s.

Dr David Haslam, clinical director of the National Obesity Forum, said: 'We
have a very limited opportunity to do something about the problem of obesity
before it is too late.

'Obesity is not a cosmetic or social issue but a serious medical one.

'A drug that can tackle each individual risk factor not just weight is
potentially a very valuable tool.'

Some fear there could be delays getting the drug on the NHS because it has
not yet been assessed by rationing watchdogs.

It has not yet been considered by the National Institute for Health and
Clinical Excellence (NICE).

It can take 18 months for the watchdogs to issue guidance on use of a new
medicine.

And some fear cash-strapped primary care trusts may be reluctant to fund the
drug until this is completed.

Professor Anthony Barnett, professor of medicine at the University of
Birmingham, said: 'Primary Care Trusts often wait for Nice guidance.

'There is a very distinct possibility that there will be some limitations on
its use, which I think will be a very great shame.

'The real question is, can we afford not to treat obesity?'

A spokesman for NICE said drugs have to be referred to it by the Department
of Health and it had not yet been asked to consider Acomplia.

A Department of Health spokeswoman said lack of NICE guidance should not be
used as a reason to withhold drugs.

But she added the Government was considering referring Acomplia to NICE and
an announcement is expected shortly.

Some have predicted the pill could generate worldwide sales in excess of
£3billion.

It was given official European Union marketing approval last week but did
not go on sale straight away.

The UK is the first place in the world where it is being launched with roll
outs expected across Europe later this year.

The company also hopes to sell it in the USA once it wins approval from
American licensing authorities.

As with any drug there are fears that once available, it could be traded on
the blackmarket.

It could then be abused by anorexics or those who are not overweight but
simply want to shed a few pounds.

A company spokesman insisted it was not being tested on such groups, it was
only licensed for patients who were overweight or obese and it would be
unlikely to benefit those without weight problems.

In one early trial the pill was also found the double the success rate of
smokers trying to quit.

However a second study failed to show any significant effects and so the
company is not now marketing it as an anti-smoking aid.


--
Gary

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It's not a diet, it's a lifestyle thing