Archive for July 8th, 2010

New obesity pills try to shed past problems
By Susan Heavey and Lisa Richwine

* First of three new obesity drugs up for review July 15
* Vivus’ Qnexa targets patients with related health issues
* Arena, Orexigen seeking to sell rival drugs
* Pills would be first for weight-loss in a decade
* Effects of long-term use likely to be an issue

WASHINGTON, July 8 (Reuters) – The first of three new fat-fighting pills faces public scrutiny by U.S. regulatory advisers next week, as small biotechs target the growing number of obese Americans despite a checkered past for weight-loss drugs.

Vivus Inc (VVUS.O), Arena Pharmaceuticals Inc (ARNA.O) and Orexigen Therapeutics Inc (OREX.O) are trying to succeed where earlier efforts flopped after several weight-loss drugs were linked to serious side effects.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration will seek input from outside advisers July 15 on Vivus’ pill, Qnexa, for use with diet and exercise. If approved, it would be the first new prescription weight-loss drug in a decade in the United States, where two out of every three people are overweight.
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Glucosamine fails to ease lower back pain: Study

Daily supplements of the joint health ingredient glucosamine sulfate may not reduce measures of pain in the lower back, says a new study.

Six months of supplementation did not appear to benefit people suffering from chronic low back pain (LBP) and degenerative lumbar osteoarthritis (OA), compared with placebo, according to findings from researchers from Oslo University Hospital and University of Oslo.

“Based on our results, it seems unwise to recommend glucosamine to all patients with chronic LBP and degenerative lumbar OA,” wrote the Norwegian scientists in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).
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South African Invasion!
by Anthony Roberts

No, I’m not talking about the 2010 FIFA World Cup – I’m talking about the latest issue of Muscle Evolution. For those of you who read the magazine, you’ll know what I’m talking about, as previous issues featured advertising from mostly home-grown South African brands, plus the usual suspects: huge international companies. Gaspari Nutrition, VPX, MuscleTech, and Optimum Nutrition have all been advertising in the magazine for as long as I can remember…but this latest issue had a couple of new faces in the form of several American brands. Purus Labs made their debut along with USP Labs (who had the back cover!) and others…
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