Pill Treats Smoking and Obesity

UPI: Two-for-one pill treats smoking, obesity

An experimental drug just completing a final round of international studies is the first pill to effectively treat the biggest heart disease risk factors, researchers said Tuesday.

Moreover, this single pill, which targets switches in the brain that control appetite and nicotine cravings and also regulates cellular switches that control the way fat is burned and stored, apparently helps people lose the most dangerous fat — the stuff around the waist called central adiposity.

The potential wonder drug is just completing its phase III clinical trials and could be available by late 2005, Jean-Pierre Despres, professor of medicine and nutrition Laval University in Quebec City, Canada, told United Press International.

Despres and Dr. Robert Anthenelli, associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and Cincinnati VA Medical Center, presented results of the two latest studies of the drug — called rimonabant — at the 53rd annual scientific sessions of the American College of Cardiology.

Anthenelli said rimonabant has the potential to be the first “drug to treat the two major risk factors for heart disease: smoking and obesity.”

This sounds very promising. Now, if they can just find a pill that treats laziness and procrastination, we’ll be set.

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James Joyner
About James Joyner
James Joyner is Professor of Security Studies at Marine Corps University's Command and Staff College. He's a former Army officer and Desert Storm veteran. Views expressed here are his own. Follow James on Twitter @DrJJoyner.

Comments

  1. Tiger says:

    I dunno, I am hopin’ they can make some really important discoveries, like a pill that will make your penis larger, or one to give you an erection when you can’t get it up. 😉

  2. Zygote says:

    I want the pill that lets me throw a football through a tire swing.

  3. Mark Hasty says:

    James, this sounds like an interesting pill. I should start smoking so I can take it . . .

  4. Eric Akawie says:

    My doctor put me on the pill that combats lazyness and procrastination. I just need to get the prescription filled.