An innovative new drug, which would help people lose weight, will be launched in the UK.This new wonder drug Acomplia is a new weight loss preparation that controls the desire to over-eat and it has been reported that the British patients will be the first ones worldwide to have access to the medication.
It has been explained that this drug acts by causing weight loss by blocking the brain’s craving signals, thereby suppressing the appetite. It is the first drug of its kind as not only does it work well in aiding weight loss, it also controls diabetes and manages cholesterol.Researchers have explained that the trials of the drug have shown that almost 10% body weight reduction can be achieved within a year, which therein reduces the risk of diabetes and heart disease. Targeting the obese, to help them loose extra pound, many health experts feel that this revolutionary drug could be of benefit for millions of people in UK alone suffering from obesity.
Acomplia, also known, as Rimonabant a new generation of drugs specifically designed to help restrain yearning for food and it is supposed to be taken each day before breakfast. It has been announced that the drug would be available in the form of a pill, in the market from today and would cost £55.20 ($100), a month, as per the official European Union marketing approval last week.
Expectations that millions, could benefit from the probable blockbuster drug, is very high as it is supposed that more than half the adult population world over are obese or overweight. The drug is also expected to be available soon in Denmark, Ireland, Germany, Finland, and Norway later on in the year. Within hours of the launch of the drug there were reports of at least one online Canadian pharmacy that advertised for a four-week supply of the drug at $165.
The French pharmaceutical firm Sanofi-Aventis is manufacturing Acomplia and they are also applying for licenses to market the drug in the U.S. A spokeswoman for Sanofi-Aventis said: ’We believe the right patient for Acomplia is overweight with type two diabetes or low levels of good cholesterol (HDL) or high levels of bad blood fats. It will benefit these people the most because it will also provide improvement above and beyond weight loss alone.’
Professor John Betteridge, a pioneer in the field of medicine who had reviewed the clinical trials, said that the results were fascinating. He said: ’This is a useful new medicine to help overweight people at risk of heart attacks. After a year, people on the trial had lost up to eight kilograms. It is particularly effective at reducing weight around the waist.’ He also added, ’For overweight people, it is important to change lifestyle first but for some that doesn’t work so this new medicine will help them.’
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