Brits first to get new obesity drug

A new drug to combat obesity will shortly be available in Britain.

The drug Acomplia is a new weight loss preparation that curbs the desire to over-eat and British patients will be the first worldwide to access the medication.

Trials of the drug have shown as much as a 10 per cent body weight reduction can be achieved within a year, which reduces the risk of diabetes and heart disease.

The drug is targeted at obese people to help them loose extra pounds and experts are predicting that the revolutionary drug could benefit millions of obese Britons.

There are some concerns that access to the drug on the NHS will be delayed because it has not as yet been assessed by rationing watchdogs.

Acomplia, also known as Rimonabant is one of a new generation of drugs designed to curb craving and needs to be taken each day before breakfast.

The pill, will be available on prescription from today at a cost of £55.20 ($100) a month following official European Union marketing approval last week.

It is also expected to be available soon in Denmark, Ireland, Germany, Finland and Norway later on in the year.

Millions could benefit from the potential blockbuster, as more than half the adult population is obese or overweight.

Within hours of the launch announcement in London, at least one online Canadian pharmacy was advertising a four-week supply of the drug for $165.

Sanofi-Aventis says the ideal patient for Acomplia is overweight with type two diabetes or low levels of good cholesterol (HDL) or high levels of bad blood fats; it will benefit such patients the most because it will also provide improvement above and beyond weight loss alone.

Acomplia is made by the French pharmaceutical firm Sanofi-Aventis which is applying for licenses to market the drug in the U.S.