That Happened!

Seattle - The experimental drug Qnexa, although in its first developmental stages, has shown that when given the highest dose of the drug obese patients were able to lose, on average, about 9% of their total weight in half the time and without the side effects of other drugs on the market.

This study lasted 28 weeks and included 755 patients. Half the patients received a placebo and the other half received the highest dose of the drug. When the study concluded, patients with the placebo lost only about 2% of their total weight, while those patients given Qnexa lost around 9% of their total weight. This is significant due to the control factors of the experiment, meaning all people were given the same diet and exercise regimen.

The drug Qnexa is a combination of some drugs that have been in and out of the news over the years. It includes about half of the amount of phentermine in the fen-phen pills and the drug used to treat epilepsy, Topamax. Vivus’ chief financial officer, Timothy Morris, is expected to disclose the results in a meeting including analysts and possible investors of the drug company. He is expected to announce that the two components of Qnexa fared much better in tests when compared to people who were given a placebo.

The drug comany, Vivus reported that 65% of patients who were given full doses of Qnexa were able to acheive 5% weight loss quite easily. Qnexa was also tolerated well among patients, few of whom reported side effects or problems associated with the drug. A few side effects that were reported included itching, dry mouth, constipation or altered taste, which are among the fewest and non life-threatening of side-effects associated with weight loss drugs. Feelings of depression were reported in the same number of placebo patients as patients who recieved the full dose of Qnexa.

All the patients in the study were given a diet that was 500 calories less than their normal diet and were instructed to exercise at least three times per week. The drug, after having passed this trial with flying colors, will be introduced to the food and drug administration for approval by the end of next year and should be on the market soon after it is approved.

Morris also said that Vivus will start to look for partnering possibilities after the data from the studies have been properly analyzed and conclusions made. Qnexa might also be a possible treatment for diabetes, but that trial run has just begun so no absolute results have been collected as yet.