Glaxo promising no miracles with new OTC weight drug alli
You won't lose weight in your sleep or shed pounds while eating anything you want - that's the sobering message from the maker of a weight loss pill poised to hit shelves next month.
GlaxoSmithKline on Tuesday opened an educational exhibit in New York City to prepare the country for alli, the first over-the-counter diet pill approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
While the cautionary marketing approach may not trigger stampedes to the counter, analysts say the drug's fate hinges on the pharmaceutical giant's ability to convince people that diet pills aren't a magic bullet.
"People's hopes are ridiculously high when it comes to diet pills," said Steven Brozak, an analyst with WBB Securities.
That's just what happened to the prescription version of the drug, Xenical by Roche Holding, which contains twice the dosage. When taken with meals, the drug blocks the absorption of about one-quarter of any fat consumed. That fat - about 150 to 200 calories worth - is passed out of the body, potentially resulting in loose stools.
About half of patients in trials experienced gastrointestinal side effects, including leakages and oily discharges.
GlaxoSmithKline is frank about those unpleasant effects, which it says can be controlled if the drug is used properly. The campaign stresses the importance of keeping meals under 15 grams of fat to avoid effects.
Educational materials even recommend people start the program when they have a few days off work, or to bring an extra pair of pants to the office. Experts say a failure to adequately prepare consumers about the effects contributed to Xenical's limited success.
The diet drug alli will come in "starter kits" containing a food journal, a healthy eating guide and a fat and calorie reference guide. A 60-capsule kit will cost about $50 while a 90-capsule pack will cost about $60. Recommended usage is one to three pills daily.
Source: http://www.wilmingtonstar.com/
