World Emerging Anti-Obesity Prescription Drug Markets

Limited Results Hinder Growth of Existing Anti-obesity Drugs

The limitations of available anti-obesity drugs and the lack of sufficient cooperation from patients have resulted in a poor track record for most of these products. FDA-approved drugs for the treatment of obesity, "Orlistat" (Xenical) and "Sibutramine" (Meridia), were expected to attain blockbuster status. However, patient realization that weight reduction is possible only when accompanied by restricted food intake and regular physical workouts has contributed to the stasis and gradual decline in sales. Serious and unpleasant side effects such as poor bowel control, oily stools, abdominal pain, and flatulence associated with Xenical and raised heart rate/blood pressure, nervousness, and sleep disorders associated with Meridia have further slowed sales.

This research service analyzes the global markets for anti-obesity drugs. The study presents analyses of market drivers, restraints, and forecasts, and identifies areas of growth. It covers both categories of prescription anti-obesity drugs: anti-satiety and anti-absorptive.

Reversing Negative Perceptions Can Boost Prescriptions

The safety of anti-obesity drugs has come under serious review after the researched deaths associated with the popular fenfluramine/phenteramine or fen-phen combination treatment for obesity and the subsequent withdrawal of fenfluramine from the market. Sibutramine was banned in some European countries after researched deaths in Italy while phenteramines are marketed in only a few European countries.

"Reversing the negative perceptions and winning the confidence of the regulatory agencies, medical community, and the patients is one of the major challenges associated with emerging anti-obesity drugs," says the author. "The bad publicity has also made it more difficult to get regulatory approval in Europe and the United States." The focus of anti-obesity drug developers should now be on developing a drug that is efficacious and does not have any serious side effects.

Novel Technology Drugs Hold Promise

"The potential for anti-obesity treatment is huge with an estimated clinically obese population of over 250 million globally in 2003," notes the author. Treatment for obesity is a serious unmet medical need, as the condition is a major factor for co-morbidities such as type II diabetes, cardiac disorder, and hypertension. The link between type II diabetes and obesity is being seriously viewed now and there is an ongoing effort to curb the spread of the epidemic by companies that are focused on developing novel mechanisms to fight obesity.

The advanced drugs under development are Rimonabant from Sanofi-Synthelabo, ATL 962 from Alizyme, P 57 from Phytopharm, Axokine from Regeneron, and TAK 602 from Takeda. These drugs are under phase-III trials and likely to reach the market in the next few years. Depending on the effectiveness and safety profile of these drugs the anti-obesity treatment market is expected to grow phenomenally.