Rimonabant, aka Acomplia, HOT NEW OBESITY PILL
But NHS chiefs warned people not to expect it to become widely available straight away as the cost-effectiveness of the pill needed to be assessed.
Rimonabant is the first drug to target factors governing the body's appetite, metabolism and energy use. Trials showed it can reduce weight by a tenth.
UK experts said it could not replace healthy food and regular exercise.
In the UK, it is estimated that one in five men and a quarter of women are obese.
Cost
But at a cost of over £55 for a month's treatment, it could end up costing the NHS billions of pounds of money.
The drug still has to be assessed by NHS advisers the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence.
The review is not expected for another two years and NHS bosses warned the public not to expect its widespread use immediately.
Gill Morgan, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, said primary care trusts may be reluctant to prescribe the drug ahead of NICE guidance.
"PCTs receive a fixed allocation of money to deliver all the services for their local community and have to take difficult decisions on competing priorities."
And she added weight loss was "predominantly about diet and exercise".
 |  Preventative measures aren't enough on their own  Dr David Haslam, of the National Obesity Forum |
The drug's manufacturer, Sanofi Aventis, has argued the drug represents good value for money when set against the £7bn per year cost of tacking obesity.
Other anti-obesity drugs are already available, but rimonabant is the only one to target the endocannabinoid system, which governs the body's appetite.
In a series of trials involving more than 6,000 patients in the US and Europe, a quarter lost more than 10% of their initial body weight after a year. About half lost more than 5%.
Side effects in some patients included nausea, dizziness and anxiety.
Significant improvements in measures of glucose control, cholesterol and triglyceride blood fats were also seen.
Smoking
Rimonabant, sold under the brand name Acomplia, is currently licensed for the treatment of obese patients, or overweight patients with associated risk factors such as type 2 diabetes or poor cholesterol and triglyceride readings.
But there are also trial data suggesting that the drug can help people give up smoking by overcoming their cravings.
However at present it is only being marketed to tackle obesity.
Dr David Haslam, clinical director of the National Obesity Forum, said the drug offered a real opportunity to get to grips with the obesity crisis.
"Preventative measures aren't enough on their own. It brings into focus the priority that should be given to treatment as well as prevention.
"The launch of rimonabant is important news for patients who are overweight, with type 2 diabetes, or low HDL cholesterol or high triglycerides."
Watch Fox News Video on Hot New Weightloss Pill
This is available in its generic form, Rimonabant at 4-rx.net
'Miracle' Weight Loss Pill May Offer Obesity Cure
Today on Fox News Live with E.D. Hill, we discussed a new weight loss pill, Acomplia (rimonabant). This pill currently being sold in Europe has been seen by many patients struggling with obesity as a "miracle pill." Many studies have shown that this medication helps patients lose weight when compared to a placebo. Most of the weight reduction results from patients limiting the number of calories they consume on a daily basis.
Acomplia helps to control appetite-- something that for many patients involved in weight reduction programs is a major obstacle to success. Even though the safety of the medication is being monitored, no major problems have yet been reported. There are some mild side effects that people should be aware of, including nausea, dizziness, anxiety and depression. Many Europeans have accepted the efficacy of this medication. Sweden, for example, has approved reimbursement of the drug through their public service program. How does it work? It controls the urge to eat. Many are calling this the "anti munchie effect."
Acomplia works in the central nervous system by affecting the cannabioids receptors in the brain. Yes, the same receptors that give people the urge to eat when exposed to marijuana. The point of all the hype around accomplia is that it has been a long time since we have seen a medication so effective in controlling appetite.
The FDA is considering approval of this drug in the U.S., but there is no clear indication as to when it will happen. In the mean time, other pharmaceutical companies are working on similar typed of drugs. Why? Because the world is severely overweight and obesity is creating pockets of epidemic proportions of diabetes and heart disease. Of course, a simple pill is not the answer to an unhealthy lifestyle. But hopefully, this "miracle drug" will be the miracle we all need to start focusing in eating right and exercising.
Dr. Manny Alvarez is the managing editor of health news at FOXNews.com, and is a regular medical contributor on the FOX News Channel. He is chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Science at Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey. Additionally, Alvarez is Adjunct Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at New York University School of Medicine in New York City.
Pharmaceutical giants like Pfizer and GlaxoSmithKline are in battle with Canadian and Mexican pharmacies.
Medical & Pharmaceuticals News
(PRLEAP.COM) How do overseas pharmacies sell the same medication at much lower prices? They are not subject the medication copyrights that give pharmaceutical giants the right to charge outrageous prices on namebrand medication. When a drug company first invents a drug (ie: Prozac) that company is the only one allowed to make that drug for a certain number of years (approximately 10 years in the US). After this time period, other companies are allowed to make the same drug. These drugs are called generics. The original drug (ie: Prozac) is called a brand name drug. Brand name drugs and their generics are IDENTICAL in terms of active ingredients. The generic pills may look different (because they are made by a different company) but inside is exactly the same active ingredient which works in exactly the same way. The only difference between brand name drugs and generic drugs is that generics are always less expensive. These Mexico pharmacies are able to sell the generic equivilant to these namebrand medications at up to 90% off the retail price.
Many Americans see it as a waste of time and money to see a physician to get a prescription for Propecia for hair loss when they already know they need the product and insurance will not cover the price of the medication because it is considered "cosmetic". Numerous times, these internet pharmacies are able to sell prescription medication for less than the insurance deductable, even if you are one of the lucky few Americans that are insured, especially when you factor in the cost of a doctor visit to write a prescription. www.RxMex.net and www.CheapMexRx.com are able to order most of your medication with just an online questionaire, & only require a faxed prescription for just a few of their medications. Companies like these are quickly becoming the SAVIORS of older Americans with limited incomes which require prescription refills for the remainder of their lives. The American Government will never grant their blessing on these companies because they have to protect the pharmaceutical giants that helped to place these elected officials into office. It is obvious that the American Government is turning a blind eye to the overseas importation of prescription medication when you read news articles about different states purchasing medication for its employees from canadian pharmacies to save on health costs for its employees. This quote from the Miami Herald states,"Minnesota, the first state to operate a Web site that helps residents import cheaper medications from Canada, plans to expand the program to include British mail-order pharmacies, Gov. Tim Pawlenty said Friday." And this is one of many states choosing to save money from out of the country pharmacies. Visit www.Cheapmexrx.com or www.Rxmex.net and compare prices on the prescription medication you are currently purchasing and see if you can save a few dollars, maybe enough to fill your car with $2.50 per gallon gasoline!
You be the judge.