Promising Weight Loss Drug on the Horizon
A new investigational weight loss drug, Contrave, is a combination of antidepressant bupropion and addiction treatment naltrexone. Bupropion (Wellbutrin) is a popular drug used for depression and smoking cessation (Zyban). Naltrexone (Vivitrol) is used to fight alcoholism and opiate addiction. Both are well known drugs that successfully target behavior and reward pathways in the brain.
Contrave works by decreasing food cravings and helping patients better control their eating. Patients who took this obesity drug lost significantly more weight than those on placebo and was also found to decrease waist circumference, reduce blood sugar levels in patients with diabetes, and improve levels of “good” HDL cholesterol and triglycerides.
The manufacturer, Orexigen Therapeutics Inc., plans to seek FDA approval for Contrave in early 2010.
Source: “Orexigen obesity drug meets goals in 3 studies”, Google/AP July 21, 2009
Bookmark this page
E-mail this story
Print this post
0 Responses to “Promising Weight Loss Drug on the Horizon”