A particular important result of the study has been the fact that Acomplia is well tolerated. Some test persons were suffering from short periods of nausea, but not in a serious way. Few persons, similar like in the control groups, suffered from depression and anxiety, but nevertheless, this fact has raised some concerns: Given the millions of people who might take the drug in the end, even a depression rate of 1% could lead to a significant number of new cases. Causing depression must indeed be a legitimate concern for a drug that blocks the "feeling good" receptors in the brain. On the other hand, obesity itself is also a leading cause for depression, making the overall evaluation of Acomplia in this regard difficult.
So far, most weight reducing drugs had to be withdrawn from the market due to serious side effects. Only two drugs are currently approved for long-term treatment of obesity: the lipase inhibitors Orlistat (Xenical®) and Sibutramine (marketed as Reductil® in Europe and Meridia® in the US), but also these are not unproblematic in their side effects.
The new mechanism of Acomplia by blocking the receptors responsible for addiction could especially circumvent undesired effects on heart and the central nervous system caused by other weight reducing drugs. Moreover, if Acomplia could indeed help to change eating habits, an innovative way to fight obesity in the long run might be found. Nevertheless, taking the pill alone certainly will not be the wonder weapon needed to battle too much weight, but discipline in exercising and maintaining a healthy diet are equally important. The latter point currently gives rise to a special concern: Critics fear that the drug has to be taken on a permanent basis in order not to change eating habits again for the worse. Even if there are absolutely no side effects, at a prize of approximately 100 US$ for a monthly dose of Acomplia, the cost would quickly add up.
Acomplia was launched in the UK in August 2006. Germany should have followed shortly afterwards, but so far it has not been introduced to the market there. In the US Acomplia is expected to surface at the end of 2006 after the FDA had declared the drug approvable to treat obesity pending certain conditions to be met, but issued a non-approvable letter for the treatment of nicotine addiction.
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