Weight Loss Drugs - weight loss information

You won't lose weight in your sleep or shed pounds while eating anything you want — that's the sobering message from the maker of a weight loss pill poised to hit shelves next month.

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How is it possible that mid-sized Indian pharmaceutical companies are already selling their own versions of diet drug rimonabant in India while the original developer of the drug, Sanofi-Aventis, still doesn't have Indian government approval to sell Acomplia?

Well, part of the answer may be that Sanofi was so focused on getting approval to sell the drug in Europe (where Acomplia went on sale last summer) and in the United States (where it still awaits regulatory action) that the French pharmaceutical giant was late in filing for marketing authorization in India.

While a Sanofi spokesperson said the company filed last summer with India's Central Drugs Standard Control Organization, which regulates the market authorization of new drugs as well as the standards for imported drugs, Sanofi confirmed that the Indian regulatory agency has not yet acted on Acomplia.

"It's too soon to tell what will be our strategy regarding the launch of Acomplia in India,'' a Sanofi spokesperson told Bloomberg News last week.

Given the relatively high cost of the drug -- generally somewhat more than US$100 per month -- in the dozen plus countries where Acomplia is already on sale, Sanofi may have thought the number of Indians who would be able to afford a price of this magnitude would be relatively small.

But in the meantime, Indian pharmaceutical companies that seem to have replicated Sanofi's version of the rimonabant molecule -- which apparently was never granted patent protection in India -- independently filed with the regulatory agency and received approval to sell their own versions of the drug.

With at least two companies -- Torrent Pharmaceuticals and Zydus Cadila -- already selling Rimoslim and Slimona in India for under US$6 per month, the market for rimonabant in a country that has a growing urban, middle-class obesity problem may turn out to be significantly greater than Sanofi believed.

Source: http://www.dietdrugreport.com/News/news-052707.htm

The marketers of alli, a GlaxoSmithKline manufactured drug, will provide consumers with the first Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved over-the-counter weight loss product without a prescription as it hits store shelves this summer (2007).

However, first they are debuting the "diet pill" with an exhibit in New York City to educate the public about their product, which is being touted as a safe and effective drug that won FDA approval in February.

This product is for any adult who is overweight. However, the manufacturer and its marketing company are taking a different approach than that of the drug, Xenical, which has twice the potency of alli.

First, the educational promotions are being forthright with information, such as the facts that there is no "magic" diet pill, and that people who use alli must also make a concerted effort to eat a reduced-calorie, low-fat diet, and exercise regularly.

If these efforts are made while using the drug that manufacturer's claim only affects the gastrointestinal system, then results will be seen.

The FDA noted that people using alli lost an additional two to three pounds for every five pounds that were lost by dieting and exercising.

According to the manufacturer, "alli helps people lose 50 percent more weight than with diet alone."

When alli is taken along with meals, the effective process blocks absorption of nearly one-quarter of the fats consumed (approximately 150 to 200 calories), which are then passed right out of the body.

However, this affect can result in loose bowels. Nearly 50 percent of trial study participants experienced gastrointestinal side effects (including bowel leakage and oily discharges) with the use of alli.

In fact, these unpleasant side effects are why the company is stating how important it is to use the drug properly and count fat gram intake.

In addition, the educational literature even recommends that users of the product should really start the program in conjunction with time off from work.

The drug includes a "starter kit," a food journal, a healthy eating guide, a fat and calorie reference guide, and 60 capsules of alli. The recommended dosage is one to three pills per day. A total of 60 capsules will cost about $50, whereas 90 capsules will cost about $60.

Since the late 1980s, adult obesity has steadily increased in this country, according to the FDA that began to formulate a plan to tackle the problem.

Currently, two out of every three people in the U.S. are considered overweight or obese, according to an AP report

Source: http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7007429094

GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare [NYSE:GSK] introduces a new approach to weight loss that will debut through a public multi-media exhibit in New York City— the alliTM Experience. The alli Experience represents part of GSK Consumer Healthcare’s comprehensive educational program to prepare adults interested in losing weight with alli — the only over-the-counter weight loss product approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) — before it goes on sale in pharmacies and mass retailers beginning on or about June 15. The alli Experience will be open daily beginning Tuesday May 22 through Sunday June 10, 2007, and is open Monday through Fridays from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m.until 6 p.m.and Sundays from 11 a.m.to 5 p.m.The exhibit is located in New York City at 20 Union Square East (located at the Southeast corner of the Square).

More than two-thirds of the U.S. population is overweight or obese, resulting in increased risk for serious diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer and stroke. These serious health complications require the American public to take an honest look at the realities of weight loss. “We’re here today to unveil the alli Experience and demonstrate our commitment to changing the way people think about weight loss.” says Steven L. Burton, vice president, Weight Control, GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare. “People are fed up being bombarded with hyped products and fad diets that over promise and under deliver. Unlike all the hype, alli is about straight talk and an honest voice, being real about the fact that losing weight is hard work.” Burtonadds, “We’re here to help and to partner with people who want to lose weight with a realistic approach. But we’re not the total answer. The answer is individual commitment in partnership with alli, and all the support and education the alli program offers.”

The alli Experience is designed to help overweight people revisit and engage the principles of modest, gradual weight loss. The exhibit, divided into five zones, begins with a sensory tour that leads to an interactive journey and multi-media education about weight loss realities. Each zone encourages visitors to embrace a more realistic approach to diet and exercise for improved health. Visitors receive meal planning ideas, delicious low-fat recipes and shopping lists with nutritious foods to help support a healthier lifestyle. The alli Experience will also help overweight people who want to lose weight determine if they are ready to commit to the alli program.

Zone 1: You enter a surround-sound passage of empty promises — “guaranteed, miracle pill, easy, no carbs!” Bombarded by chaos and hyperbole flashing on ceilings and walls, you’re asked, “Fed up?”

Zone 2: In contrast to Zone 1 you enter a more serene space… classic, clean, clear. To match the simplicity of the message is one lone bench. Above it you read sound advice — there are no shortcuts. Tenets of truth inscribed on the wall acknowledge and inspire — losing weight is hard but not impossible. Need help? Engage in the next Zone.

Zone 3: Enter a theater of interactive stations to ask, learn, and discover. Find out if you’re ready for a true weight loss commitment or still looking for a quick fix. Learn how alli can be a partner to help you lose 50 percent more weight than dieting alone… understand that you can’t just try alli, you have to commit to it. Test yourself to see if you’re ready to commit.

Zone 4: Feast your eyes on a larger-than-life sized dinner plate featuring projections of appetizing dishes that challenge your dietary aptitude. See carousels showcasing flavorful low-fat meals and learn how to keep temptation out of your pantry in a simulated kitchen. Encouraged? Reflect in the next Zone.

Zone 5: At interactive kiosks, embark on a personal journey to find out what’s holding you back... exercise your option to speak to a trained expert. Exit the alli Experience… and enter a new weight loss revolution. You. Your commitment.

The alli Experience is open to anyone who is 18 years or older, as alli is for overweight adults.

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Diet pill alli (low-dose orlistat) will officially go on sale on June 15th, according to distributor GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare.

While the pricing of the drug has not been officially announced, a starter pack that includes 60 alli capsules (enough for three weeks assuming that you take one before each meal), the alli Shuttle (a carrying case for your pills), and several booklets including a calorie and fat counter and a daily journal is expected to cost between $50 and $60.

An alli starter pack that includes 90 alli capsules (enough for a month assuming that you take one before each meal) is expected to cost between $65 and $70.

An alli refill package -- consisting solely of 120 alli capsules (enough for 40 days) -- is expected to cost between $75 and $85.

Glaxo, meanwhile, has released the first two television commercials of what is ultimately expected to be a $100 million plus first-year blitz for the first FDA-approved over-the-counter diet drug.

Both of the first two commercials can be viewed by those who have missed them on television via the video sharing website YouTube.

As part of the prelaunch educational campaign for the diet pill that Glaxo agreed to at the insistence of the FDA, the first two commercials are very slick but soft-sell and are designed to push people to Glaxo's internet website, myalli.com, which is expected to play a major role in the company's marketing.

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Diet pills aim to help overweight people to curb their hunger and therefore lose weight. They are invariably pharmacological substances, though herbal and other natural alternatives exist, too. If diet pills contain pharmacological agents, there is an issue of benefits vs. risks involved. Obviously, grossly obese patients with serious health risks caused by excessive weight do not have many options. However, many of the initially developed diet pills contained amphetamines. Examples of these were Dexedrine and Digoxin. These stimulants can increase heart rates to dangerous levels. Obese persons often have to reduce weight precisely because of existing or developing heart conditions. In this context, diet pills that contain amphetamines or similar stimulants present a definite risk. While they do curb hunger, they also disrupt normal sleep patterns, cause anxiety and are highly addictive. Their uncontrolled use leads to many serious problems. In fact, almost all diet pills work by disrupting some natural physical and even mental functions. This is an important point to remember.

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Could the first FDA-approved, over-the-counter diet pill jump start weight loss for overweight Americans?

For years, dieters across the nation have turned to drugstore aisles in search of a quick fix for their weight problems. Hundreds of bottles of supplements and diet pills line these aisles, and most use catchy advertisements and testimonials to make what many doctors say are unsubstantiated claims -- fooling dieters into believing that a bottle of pills could help them lose 10 or 20 pounds in a matter of days or weeks.

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A new exercise pill turns your body into a fat-burning machine allowing it to burn twice the fat.

The pill has been developed by American scientists and to this point stil does not have a name. The pill is in early stages of development but could cure the obesity crisis in America as well as the world.

The pill has been tested i mice thus far. The pill allowed the mice to eat a very high-fat diet without gaining an ounce. This would be a major break-through as it would allow more freedom in the diets of fast-paced peopel around the world.

The pill works by triggering the same type of fat-burning processes which occur when you go to the gym or go for a run. This exercise can be doubled by taking the pill. When they are not active, the mice continued to burn fat.

Dr. Ronald Evans stated “Too few people get an ideal amount of exercise. Having access to an exercise pill would improve the quality of muscles, and increase the burning of energy or excess fat lowering the risks of heart disease and diabetes.”

The rule of thumb is as long as more calories are burned than taken in, you will lose weight.

Source: http://www.ecanadanow.com/