News »June 2007

Sanofi's Acomplia Magnetizing Americans to Online Pharmacies and Europe

June 13, 2007

It seems that Americans are not in a mood to wait any longer for the wonderful diet pill called acomplia as they started pouring into Europe to buy the drug. In addition, they are also checking out online pharmacies' websites to get a desirable dose of the breakthrough diet pill.

Developed by Sanofi-Aventis, weight-loss pill Acomplia is still waiting for the FDA's approval to be sold in the United States as Zimulti. Having apprehension over its efficacy and safety, the FDA delayed its approval thrice in the past 16 months. Agency's advisory panel will furnish its views about the drug this week. The first of its type, acomplia works by blocking up the human receptors located in the brain.

The FDA panel has to decide whether acomplia's potential benefits including weight-loss, reduction in cholesterol and blood sugar levels can prevail over its associated side effects. In Clinical trials, the drug is found capable of causing anxiety and depression when consumed. Analysts estimated that the panel may have concerns with its approval without
taking more precise studies into consideration

"But once it gets approved, Acomplia may be credible aid for millions who want to shed off extra pounds", says Nick Turner, an analyst at Mirabaud Securities Ltd, London. "Accordingly, side effects that were not discovered during the patient trials may shoot up", Nick added

"The major concern associated with Acomplia seems to be neurological disorders'' opined Turner, who upholds a neutral evaluation on the drug.

Sanofi has anticipated the annual revenue of $ 3 billion, which is nearly 8.6 percent of the previous year's pharmaceutical sale. Having waited for so long, People now are either flocking to Europe or are taking up the help of foreign web sites.