Weight Loss Drug Approved by FDA
By: Janalee Heinemann, MSW
PWSA (USA) Director of Research & Medical Affairs
As many of you are probably aware, there is a new weight loss drug,
Qsymia, just approved by the FDA. The weight loss was more with
this drug than with two others recently reviewed by the FDA and one
approved (Lorcaserin/Belviq) that was not nearly as remarkable regarding
weight loss. Qsymia is a combination of two older drugs that have long
been known to help with weight loss: phentermine (the safer half of the
old fen-phen drug that was banned) and topirimate – a drug that was
studied back in April 2000 under a PWSA (USA) grant, “Open-Label
Pilot Study of Topirimate in Adults with Prader-Willi Syndrome.”
Topirimate is an anticonvulsant drug that makes people feel more
satiated after eating, which is why we sponsored the study by Nathan A.
Shapira, M.D., Ph.D. The study showed that Topirimate did not
significantly change the calories consumed, Body Mass Index, or
decreased self-reported appetite in PWS. In addition, there were no
significant changes in compulsions. Surprisingly though, Topirimate
treatment resulted in a clinically significant improvement in the
self-injury (i.e., skin-picking) that is characteristic of PWS.
The researchers of Qsymia state that it targets multiple brain
signals that drive people to overeat. We cannot say at this time if it
will be effective with PWS. Please know that we will keep you informed
of any new outcomes on this and other obesity drugs that might be
helpful with PWS. As with any new medication, if you wish to try it
before it has been proven to be effective in PWS, it is most useful to
do so as part of a clinical trial.
Currently, I have been working informally with two pharmaceutical
companies who are working on potential products that might impact on PWS,
but as with all pharmaceutical companies, there are always strict
agreements of confidentiality. We are also working with FPWR on
financially supporting the Best Idea Grants post our 2nd International
Hyperphagia Conference (go to www.hyperphagia.org) with 2012 One Small
Step funds. We never forget that the #1 deadly enemy of PWS is the
appetite.
edited:
07/23/2012 | 