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A UK biopharmaceutical company has just announced results from a limited Phase 1 trial of a new CB-1 receptor antagonist which shows that the weight loss achieved compares very favourably with the results achieved by Acomplia (Rimonabant.)  The average weight loss over 16 days was 6 pounds for patients given a 5 mg dose.  Those who were administered a 100 mg dose lost 11 pounds on average over the 16 day period.  One patient actually lost 24 pounds which is a staggering amount in such a short period.

Vernalis (the company behind the new product) said that the results were achieved with “a markedly reduced propensity for neurological adverse events.”  It also demonstrated that fewer patients experienced nausea than similar trial results for Rimonabant.

This drug is in the very early days of testing so it will be years before it comes to the market for prescribing and it is not clear if these amazing results can be sustained over a longer period.  The good news is that both Pfizer and Merck have CB-1 receptor products which are much further advanced and we hope to be able to bring you some news on the progress of these trials very shortly.