Comments on: Sanofi & Pfizer End Research Into Their Diet Pills http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/11/sanofi-ends-all-research-into-acomplia-diet-pill/ News, Comment and Conversation Fri, 10 Feb 2012 21:33:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Lyn http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/11/sanofi-ends-all-research-into-acomplia-diet-pill/#comment-383980 Lyn Mon, 08 Dec 2008 03:48:22 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=17329#comment-383980 What's really sad to me is that so many people feel so out-of-control and hopeless about their weight that they are willing to risk their lives to take a pill to "fix" it. Same thing we saw in the late 90's with fen phen. As long as people are so desperate for a quick fix, these drug companies are going to keep pumping out the weight loss pills to the masses, when in fact only a small percentage of the population *needs* a drug to lose weight. But then, who wants to hear the same old line about eating less and moving more? A pill is so much brighter, shinier and more exciting. What’s really sad to me is that so many people feel so out-of-control and hopeless about their weight that they are willing to risk their lives to take a pill to “fix” it. Same thing we saw in the late 90’s with fen phen. As long as people are so desperate for a quick fix, these drug companies are going to keep pumping out the weight loss pills to the masses, when in fact only a small percentage of the population *needs* a drug to lose weight. But then, who wants to hear the same old line about eating less and moving more? A pill is so much brighter, shinier and more exciting.

]]> By: Nathan http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/11/sanofi-ends-all-research-into-acomplia-diet-pill/#comment-380615 Nathan Thu, 06 Nov 2008 17:58:23 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=17329#comment-380615 Derek Lowe had a nice post on this topic over at "In the Pipeline". Lest anyone forget why drugs are so expensive, remember that we now have 3 major companies taking compounds to phase-III trails -- and barely a penny earned for thier efforts. I'll quote Derek: "And before we all try to forget that this all happened, let's spare a thought for the huge amounts of time, effort, brainpower and money that went into this area over the last eight or ten years. Three of the biggest research organizations in the industry have now flamed out trying to develop these drugs, and plenty of smaller players were trying, too, as a glance at the patent literature will make clear. The end result is that we have paid a gigantic amount of money to learn that the biology is more complicated than we thought... If you think that drug development is a sure road to riches - if anyone still thinks that - then come survey this wreckage and think again." http://www.corante.com/pipeline/ Derek Lowe had a nice post on this topic over at “In the Pipeline”. Lest anyone forget why drugs are so expensive, remember that we now have 3 major companies taking compounds to phase-III trails — and barely a penny earned for thier efforts.

I’ll quote Derek:
“And before we all try to forget that this all happened, let’s spare a thought for the huge amounts of time, effort, brainpower and money that went into this area over the last eight or ten years. Three of the biggest research organizations in the industry have now flamed out trying to develop these drugs, and plenty of smaller players were trying, too, as a glance at the patent literature will make clear. The end result is that we have paid a gigantic amount of money to learn that the biology is more complicated than we thought… If you think that drug development is a sure road to riches - if anyone still thinks that - then come survey this wreckage and think again.”

http://www.corante.com/pipeline/

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