For now, anyway, per the Associated Press. Reason given: In clinical trials of rimonabant (trade names: Acomplia and Zimulti) it was found that 88 percent of those reporting psychiatric problems (including suicidal feelings) while on the drug had no prior history of depression, strongly suggesting causality.
The unanimous finding by the expert panel’s 14 voting members made it unlikely the Food and Drug Administration will approve the drug. The agency usually follows its panel’s advice, but it isn’t required to do so.
“There is a reasonable suspicion we better learn some more and watch this affair more closely before we launch into massive use of this drug,” said panelist Dr. Jules Hirsch, of The Rockfeller University.
I knew there was a reason I dug Dr. Hirsch.
So at least we can rest easy that they’re not going to stuff all us fatties with a pill that removes all our pleasure in eating. Or sex. Or life.
The search for the magic words that will destroy all fat folks’ pleasure in living, however, continues apace. Wheee.
June 13, 2007 at 5:52 pm
THC agonists are a horrible idea. This is a complex substance and we are just beginning to understand something about its’ significance in human biology.
The ramifications of it’s misuse also must be explored. How useful is a chemical that robs the mind of its ability to feel pleasure? Tread lightly!
June 13, 2007 at 6:40 pm
Thank freakin’ God.
June 13, 2007 at 9:16 pm
I’ll feel better when the FDA officially denies it. I just don’t trust them on fat drugs, no matter how much precident and science stands in their way.
I mean, fat people need to be made MORE unhappy? THAT is the problem?
June 13, 2007 at 10:08 pm
Meowser thanks so much for posting this. I needed some good news today.
June 14, 2007 at 9:34 am
I am very happy to hear this. I was pissed off at the world in general last night for anyone entertaining the very idea of fat people giving up all sense of pleasure for the sake of potentially losing a pound or two.
June 14, 2007 at 10:54 am
This is just the consensus of an FDA advisory panel, but the official FDA decision won’t be until next month. The FDA has not always ruled what advisors say (look at Alli!!!), although there are politics at work here and they may this time. But what I found disturbing is that this consensus was more politically-driven, then scientific. They failed to speak out about even more serious complications from this family of drugs. (Perhaps so as not to harm competing products in the pipelines?) Let’s see what they rule next month before we start celebrating.
June 14, 2007 at 11:11 am
Yeah, I suppose it’s not completely a done deal yet. But it sounded close enough, and damn it, I needed something to be happy about this week. Especially since the Mets are doing so rottenly.
June 14, 2007 at 11:36 am
I don’t think I am going to hold my breath on this one just yet. They’ll figure out a way to push it thru. As Sandy mentioned, it is politically driven, not based on science. The FDA is so screwed up as is.
June 14, 2007 at 5:16 pm
Credit where it’s due, the panel done good. I find it funny that people cannot let go of the idea that fat people are just having too much pleasure.
It reminds me of the good old days when fat people were seen as always happy, life and soul of the party types.
How do they marry that with our ‘obesity’ induced depression of today?
June 15, 2007 at 9:39 am
I read another news story which referred to the drug as a “miracle pill.” Since when is losing 10 pounds considered to be a miracle?
July 5, 2007 at 3:46 pm
As always, when you’ve got something which debunks junk science, get the word out, get the word out, get the word out — particularly in media seen/read by the general public. Someone, somewhere has to have enough money to help and enough sense to want to help with the money angle. Finding him/her/them may be the proverbial needle-in-a-haystack hunt, but it’s worth it.
May 30, 2008 at 9:23 am
Ill news comes apace ,