In the study, conducted by Duke University Medical Center, more than 50% of obese patients in the Qnexa treatment group experienced 10% or more total body weight loss during the 24-week study period.
Mean weight loss on an intent-to-treat basis in the Qnexa group was 25.1lbs, compared to 4.8lbs in the placebo group. The company further reports that the rate of weight loss for patients in the Qnexa group had not plateaued by the end of the study.
Qnexa was well-tolerated with a study completion rate of 92% versus a completion rate of 62% for the placebo group.
“The prevalence of obesity and related illnesses such as type 2 diabetes has increased at an alarming rate in the US in the recent years. There is considerable need for effective treatments for weight control. The weight loss observed in this trial is quite impressive,” said Dr Kishore Gadde, director of the obesity clinical trials program at Duke University Medical Center and principal investigator in the trial.