I'm always wary of this sort of thing, and I DETEST what the name is supposed to mean. Ick:
GSK Consumer Healthcare, which will market the pill, said it chose the name alli — pronounced AL-eye — to indicate a partnership with consumers in their weight-loss efforts.
FDA OKs first nonprescription diet pill
By RANDOLPH E. SCHMID, AP Science Writer Thu Feb 8, 6:40 AM ET
WASHINGTON - The nation's ongoing battle against obesity has a new weapon — the first government-approved diet pill that can be bought without a prescription.
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Intended only for people 18 and older, the drug, called alli, is a reduced-strength version of the prescription diet drug Xenical.
The
Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday announced its approval of sales of the lower-dose drug without a prescription, with officials stressing that it needs to be used in combination with a diet and exercise program.
"Using this drug alone is unlikely to be beneficial," said Dr. Charles Ganley, FDA's director of nonprescription products.
The new drug will be sold by GlaxoSmithKline PLC and the company said it is expected to be in stores by summer. While the final price has not been determined, it is expected to be about $1- to $2-a-day. Xenical is made by Roche Holding AG.
While some dietary supplements make weight loss claims, Ganley said this is the first nonprescription drug approved by the agency for that purpose.
Ganley said in trials, for every 5 pounds people lost through diet and exercise, those using alli lost an added 2 to 3 pounds.
When taken with meals the drug — known generically as orlistat — blocks the absorption of about one-quarter of any fat consumed. That fat — about 150 to 200 calories worth — is passed out of the body in stools, which can be loose as a result. About half of patients in trials experienced gastrointestinal side effects. More...
GSK Consumer Healthcare, which will market the pill, said it chose the name alli — pronounced AL-eye — to indicate a partnership with consumers in their weight-loss efforts.
FDA OKs first nonprescription diet pill
By RANDOLPH E. SCHMID, AP Science Writer Thu Feb 8, 6:40 AM ET
WASHINGTON - The nation's ongoing battle against obesity has a new weapon — the first government-approved diet pill that can be bought without a prescription.
ADVERTISEMENT
Intended only for people 18 and older, the drug, called alli, is a reduced-strength version of the prescription diet drug Xenical.
The
Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday announced its approval of sales of the lower-dose drug without a prescription, with officials stressing that it needs to be used in combination with a diet and exercise program.
"Using this drug alone is unlikely to be beneficial," said Dr. Charles Ganley, FDA's director of nonprescription products.
The new drug will be sold by GlaxoSmithKline PLC and the company said it is expected to be in stores by summer. While the final price has not been determined, it is expected to be about $1- to $2-a-day. Xenical is made by Roche Holding AG.
While some dietary supplements make weight loss claims, Ganley said this is the first nonprescription drug approved by the agency for that purpose.
Ganley said in trials, for every 5 pounds people lost through diet and exercise, those using alli lost an added 2 to 3 pounds.
When taken with meals the drug — known generically as orlistat — blocks the absorption of about one-quarter of any fat consumed. That fat — about 150 to 200 calories worth — is passed out of the body in stools, which can be loose as a result. About half of patients in trials experienced gastrointestinal side effects. More...
