The Business of Obesity: Trends in Developing and Commercializing Therapeutics for the Worldwide Marketplace

Kelly, Evelyn B. Ph.D.

• This article, which includes highlights from the recent Global Business Research, Ltd., conference World Obesity Congress & Expo (www.globalbusinessresearch.com), was written by Evelyn B. Kelly, Ph.D., a medical writer in Ocala, Florida. She may be contacted via e-mail at [email protected].

Reprints of this article are available. For more information visit www.drugandmarket.com/journal and click the "Reprints" link.

Drug & Market Development 15(11):p 720-727, November 2004.

• Obesity is the most prevalent, fatal chronic disease of the twenty-first century and is increasing at rates only seen with infectious diseases. Obesity causes 300,000 premature deaths each year and accounts for $93 billion in medical expenses annually.

• The issue of obesity transcends health, emerging as a global problem that will remain for years to come.

• FDA must balance the new status of a health crisis and "obesity as disease" with the troubled well-publicized fiascos such as Fenfluramine-Phentermine (Fen-Phen) and OTC products like ephedra.

• Despite advances in scientific understanding, diagnosis, and drug development, substantial unmet needs must be translated into opportunities.

• Sales for the two approved drugs-Meridia and Xenical-have been disappointing. Forming partnerships between innovators and Big Pharma offers risk sharing and will achieve greater revenue faster and ultimately provide more value for an emerging pharma or biotech company.