Excessive weight gain isn't only unhealthy, it's expensive. Nearly 10 percent of U.S. healthcare dollars are spent on obesity-related expenses.
That's why there's so much interest in a new weight loss pill called Qnexa, which is expected to hit the market this year.
When it comes to weight loss, we've always been taught there's no such thing as a quick fix. That might be about to change with Qnexa, which could be the next blockbuster drug to fight not only obesity, but also high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol.
"We believe we have the first product that actually treats the causes of these diseases," said Peter Tam, president of VIVUS, a Silicon Valley biotech company which developed Qnexa.
"So far all the treatments that are available right now are able to achieve 3-5 percent weight loss. We are the first treatment that is capable of achieving 10-15 percent weight loss within one year," said Tam.
Meg Evans took one of these pills every day for two years. Her results were dramatic.
I just started steadily losing weight. Every time I came in, the scale just went straight down," said Evans.
"They were amazed - and happy. And I was just as happy," said Dr. Michelle Look, family practice / VIVUS consultant.
Look is a lead investigator and a paid consultant for VIVUS.
"What's important to me for my patients is that a drug is efficacious and safe. And that is what I've seen in my two years of experience with this drug," said Look.
Qnexa is a combination of the stimulant phentermine, which used to be one-half of the recalled drug Phenfen, and its new partner the epilepsy drug Topamax.
Study participants were also put on a reduced calorie diet and told to exercise three times a week.
Evans lost 55 pounds, more than 20 percent of her body weight. On average, participants lost ten percent of their weight.
"Very good results. Definitely much higher than we'd seen in any other compound that had been previously approved," said Michelle.
Only a few patients reported side effects, which included itching, dry mouth, constipation and altered taste.
Qnexa was submitted to the FDA in March and could be on the market later this year. If approved, it will be by prescription only.
CLICK HERE for more information on VIVUS and Qnexa.
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