[extropy-chat] thinner

[Damien Broderick]

Aussie fat-burn pill a big success
Clara Pirani, Medical reporter
14dec04

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,11682770%255E23289,00.html

AN Australian company has developed the first weight-loss pill that 
kick-starts the human body's metabolism to help people burn fat without the 
need for strict diets or exercise.

Melbourne-based Metabolic Pharmaceuticals said yesterday that the results 
of its second phase of clinical trials proved the drug promoted weight loss 
without causing any side effects.

Three hundred obese people were given either the obesity drug, known as 
AOD9604, or a placebo every day for 12 weeks.

They all followed the same exercise advice and diet.

Those taking AOD9604 lost an average of 2.8kg, while those given a placebo 
lost only 0.8kg.

"We are delighted with the results," Metabolic Pharmaceuticals chief 
executive Chris Belyea said. "It's extremely promising."

Dr Belyea said AOD9604 differed from existing obesity drugs that work by 
suppressing appetite or preventing the body from absorbing food.

Appetite suppressants did not help the many overweight people who ate even 
when they were not hungry, and drugs that prevented food absorption could 
cause painful and embarrassing side effects such as diarrhoea.

The new drug, invented by Monash University associate professor Frank Ng, 
is based on part of the human growth hormone molecule.

The hormone, which stimulates the metabolism of fat, occurs naturally in 
the body but is suppressed in obese people.

"We don't know why the hormone is suppressed in obese people but it makes 
it harder for them to lose weight," Dr Belyea said.

"Our drug makes it possible for these people to lose weight."

Six doses of the drug, ranging from 1mg to 30mg, were tested.

"We did different doses because for our drug there is an active range and 
below or above that range there is no effect," Dr Belyea said.

"So we expected to see an odd dose response and what we saw, somewhat to 
our surprise, was that the 1mg dose was the most effective."

More than 50 per cent of volunteers taking the 1mg dose lost 2kg or more, 
and 9 per cent lost 8kg or more.

Dr Belyea said the company would continue to test different doses.

"We found that the lower dose was the most effective and we expect to see a 
little bit of an improvement in weight loss when we go down to slightly 
lower than a 1mg dose."

However, Australian Divisions of GPs chairman Rob Walters questioned the 
long-term safety of weight-loss pills, claiming they gave overweight people 
an excuse to avoid exercise.

"Weight loss is a huge industry predicated on the fact that you can perform 
miracles with no effort on the part of the patient and with no side 
effects, and that's not the case," Dr Walters said.

Metabolic Pharmaceuticals' shares closed up 8c at $2.04, after hitting 
$2.50 earlier in the day.

The third phase of the clinical trials will begin in the second half of 
next year and involve at least 1500 volunteers.