Xenical will be Replaced by Sanofi-Aventis's Acomplia as the Clinical Gold Standard for the Treatment of Obesity by 2010

Decision Resources, Inc., one of the world's leading research and advisory firms focusing on pharmaceutical and healthcare issues, finds that Roche/GlaxoSmithKline's Xenical will be replaced as the clinical gold standard for the treatment of obesity by Sanofi-Aventis's Acomplia by 2010.

According to the new report entitled Only One Emerging Agent Can Satisfy Physicians' Most Important Demand: An Obesity Study, Acomplia will replace Xenical because clinical data and thought-leader consensus indicate that the drug will provide greater weight reduction while offering additional cardiovascular benefits by increasing HDL cholesterol and enhancing insulin sensitivity. Launched in 2006 in the United Kingdom and Germany, Acomplia was the first cannabinoid-1 receptor antagonist to reach the obesity market.

"Besides greater weight reduction and additional cardiovascular benefits, Accomplia promotes a longer period of weight maintenance and greater waist circumference reduction," said Decision Resources analyst Nancy Li. "Although Acomplia is contraindicated in patients with depression and may cause side effects of anxiety and depression in certain subpopulations, its lack of upsetting GI side effects is a welcome difference for patients who have tried Xenical. In addition, Acomplia is dosed more conveniently - once daily versus three times daily for Xenical."

About Only One Emerging Agent Can Satisfy Physicians' Most Important Demand: An Obesity Study

Only One Emerging Agent Can Satisfy Physicians' Most Important Demand: An Obesity Study covers the current and future state of the obesity drug market. The report includes:

  -- More than 3,000 physician responses that define drug attributes that      drive prescription now and in the future.      - Clinical end point tradeoffs that are most influential to        physicians.      - Areas of unmet need with highest potential.      - Benchmark trial results for specific drug opportunities.      - Patient share potential for emerging therapies and target product        profiles.    -- Decision Resources proprietary analysis of commercial factors that      accelerate or constrain a drug's market potential.      - Promotion: DTC spend, detailing intensity.      - Reimbursement: formulary tier, prior approval restriction, quantity        limits.      - Labeling: black box warnings, approved patient segments,        contraindications.      - Competition: order of entry, pricing, generic entry, pipeline sales        forecast.      - Medical practice: decision trees, treating physician type, line of        therapy.    -- Comparisons of the key clinical attributes of current and emerging      therapies in the areas of efficacy, safety, and delivery.      - Analysis and supporting data that identifies the clinical "Gold        Standard" now and over the next ten years.      - Key insights as to which clinical end points have the greatest        influence on physician decision-making.  

The report can be purchased by contacting Decision Resources. Members of the media may request a complimentary copy or an interview with an analyst.

About Decision Resources

Decision Resources, Inc., (www.decisionresources.com) is a world leader in market research publications, advisory services, and consulting designed to help clients shape strategy, allocate resources, and master their chosen markets.

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  For more information, contact:    Elizabeth Marshall   Decision Resources, Inc.   781-296-2563   emarshall@dresources.com 

SOURCE: Decision Resources, Inc.