New drug Qnexa

The fact that the FDA advisory committee had voted in favor of this drug does not necessarily mean it will be approved by the FDA but at least it is a good first step. Qnexa is a combination of two drugs that have been in the market for many years and are commonly used, Phentermine and Topamax. I am including a copy of the public communication from OCC.

Obesity Care Continuum (OCC) Applauds FDA Advisory Committee Resounding Approval of QNEXA

For Immediate release
February 23, 2012               
                                                                                                              
For More Information:
James Zervios
Director of Communications
Obesity Action Coalition                                   
(800) 717-3117 
http://us.mc1610.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=jzervios@obesityaction.org
or
Francesca Dea
The Obesity Society
Executive Director                                 
(202) 210-8942
http://us.mc1610.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=fdea@obesity.org

Washington, DC – Members of the Obesity Care Continuum (OCC) are pleased with the FDA’s Advisory Committee near unanimous vote to approve QNEXA, a new drug to treat those affected by obesity and obesity-related co-morbidities, such as Type 2 diabetes, hypertension and more.

“The robust discussion by the panel surrounding both the risks and benefits of new obesity drugs is both refreshing and powerful,” said Obesity Action Coalition (OAC) President and CEO Joe Nadglowski. “Clearly, our message about treating obesity seriously is beginning to resonate with the FDA,” added Ted Kyle, RPh, MBA, Chair of The Obesity Society’s Advocacy Committee.

The 20 to 2 vote was surprising given the risk-oriented composition of the FDA chosen advisory committee, which included a number of experts in cardiovascular disease and neonatology – FDA suggested risk areas associated with QNEXA. Despite the strong endorsement of the advisory committee that the FDA approve QNEXA, member groups of the OCC remain cautiously optimistic until the agency renders its final decision this April. In 2011, the FDA failed to approve Contrave despite the obesity drug being approved by an advisory committee the previous year.

“Currently there is a vast gap in treatment options.  We have diet and exercise, and we have surgery, with nothing in between. Until we have more treatment options, such as obesity drugs, millions of Americans in this gap will continue to suffer from the devastating effects of untreated obesity,” said Dr. Patrick O’Neil, President of The Obesity Society.” “This a hopeful day for those affected by obesity. We hope that FDA shares this view as well,” added O’Neil.

About the Obesity Care Continuum (OCC):
With a combined membership of more than 125,000 healthcare professionals and patient advocates, the Obesity Care Continuum (OCC) is dedicated to promoting access to, and coverage of, the continuum of care surrounding the treatment of overweight and obesity. The OCC also challenges weight bias and stigma oriented policies – whenever and wherever they occur. The OCC is a coalition of the Obesity Action Coalition (OAC), the Obesity Society (TOS), the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS).