Qnexa

Source:vivus.com

What is Qnexa?

Qnexa is an experimental obesity drug made by Vivus Inc.

It is a combination of two previously approved products with demonstrated weight loss properties: Phentermine and Topiramate.
Phentermine is one of the most widely prescribed weight loss drugs (it has been available for treating obesity since the 1950s).
Topiramate was approved in 1996 for treating epilepsy, and more recently as a prophylactic for migraine.

By combining the activity of each of these compounds in a novel, once-daily, low-dose capsule formulation, Qnexa simultaneously addresses the two main mechanisms that impact eating behavior - appetite and satiety.

Thus, Qnexa is specially designed to induce significantly greater weight loss than either individual compound.

Vivus Inc. (VVUS) on September 9 released results from two late-stage studies of its new weight loss product that met key weight loss goals.
Obese patients treated with Qnexa lost as much as 37 pounds or 14.7 percent of their body weight over 13 months.
The drug also prompted improvement in blood pressure and diabetes risk factors.
And what is more important: trials came without the serious side effects.

These results are among the strongest ever seen in an obesity drug trial. For example: currently available prescription diet drugs Meridia and Xenical cut body weight by 4 percent to 5 percent.

Probably, this victory would help Vivus in its plans to ask for Food and Drug Administration approval by the end of 2009 or in the first half of 2010.

What are Qnexa side effects?

Who can take Qnexa?

Qnexa will be labeled to treat patients with a body mass index of 27 or more.