I never used Alli because of the TV advertisement. The ad says clearly that you are supposed to use this stuff with proper diet and exercise. For crying out loud, if you eat a proper diet and exercise, you're going to lose weight and be healthy unless you have a serious medical problem screwing up your metabolism. Besides, who needs "leakage" and "loose stools"? Bleah!It's really a tough question. Do you want to be overweight or leave a trail of body ooze wherever you go?From an AP article by Candice Choi as it appeared on the Verizon website:"...The drug comes in "starter kits" containing a food journal, a healthy-eating guide and a fat and calorie reference guide. A 60-capsule kit costs about $50 while a 90-capsule pack costs about $60.
In clinical trials, the FDA says that people using alli lost an additional 2 to 3 pounds for every 5 pounds lost through diet and exercise. When taken with meals, the drug blocks the absorption of about one-quarter of any fat consumed. That fat - about 150 to 200 calories worth - is passed out of the body, potentially resulting in loose stools.
GlaxoSmithKline is betting alli will become a major moneymaker. At the time of the drug's launch, the company estimated it would eventually sell between 5 million and 6 million kits annually, translating to at least $1.5 billion in annual retail sales. This year, the company spent $150 million on marketing alli, making it one of the drug maker's biggest campaigns to date.
"As people meet their maintenance goals, they'll share their success stories and get new people to try it," Cadle said.
Another hurdle for Glaxo will be overcoming consumers' distaste for the drug's unpleasant side effects, such as leakages and oily discharges. Marketing material prior to the drug's launch stressed the importance of keeping meals under 15 grams of fat to avoid effects. Educational pamphlets even recommend people start the program when they have a few days off work, or to bring an extra pair of pants to the office. (emphasis added by KLH)
The warnings turned into fodder for late night comics.
Now Glaxo is focusing on telling people that side effects can be avoided if the drug is used properly.
"They really need to understand the (gastrointestinal) treatment effects are not automatic," Cadle said.
In fact, he said the side effects help some users by signaling when they're not eating right.
Being upfront about the side effects may provoke jokes in the media. Yet failing to do so could bring about a backlash from surprised consumers, as it did for the prescription version of the drug Xenical by Roche Holding. That drug contains twice the dosage of alli.
About half of patients in clinical trials for alli experienced similar gastrointestinal side effects.
Labeling indicates alli is appropriate for anybody who is overweight, or has a body mass index of 25 or higher. Two-thirds of the U.S. population is estimated to be overweight or obese. A body mass index over 30 is considered obese."
