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FDA Approves Vivus’ Weight-Loss Pill

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    Vivus President Peter Tam on the company’s new weight-loss drug Qsymia.

  • Duration 3:16
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-- -- soaring near closing up nearly 10% following FDA's approval of its weight loss pill it's just the second drug clear to treat obesity in the past thirteen years but.

Really the past three or four weeks is again they're all coming to market here joining us now Peter tam the president.

A -- -- okay at a time Peter when 30%.

Of US adults are totally obese.

Will this be a Blockbuster drug for you.

I listen I think guess certainly -- approval of Q Ximian couldn't be more timely.

Well especially as you said when we're talking about thirty million American adults having obesity.

Clearly period the -- of their needs to be effective treatment for that many patients.

So we feel very very fortunate to be able to have she's yeah.

Available very soon for these patient.

Us that noted the pharmaceutical industry a Blockbuster drug is one that -- a billion or more will this be that.

Yeah well when you think about about hundred need -- -- -- American adults who are overweight obese that could potentially be.

Patience for this therapy.

Certainly we're talking about very very significant product sales potential.

Peter you know so many people focus on the profits of pharmaceutical companies and -- About how long it takes to bring a drug to market that not only mentioning the FDA but just a trial and error in the in the -- laboratory itself.

How long and how much money did this cost you two to get to market.

As a great question now we've been doing.

This development of -- -- -- -- for about ten years in this cost us hundreds of millions of dollars.

And the reason why we -- that is because one day -- two reasons one is because as a huge unmet medical need.

And there are really no effective therapies the only effective therapy really is surgery.

And we know that only a very small fraction of patients are willing to undergo surgery for their weight loss second is that.

You know -- ceemea has been demonstrated in clinical trials to achieve significant degree of weight loss.

I'm on average patients lose about 10% of the body weight.

It's a substantial amount of weight loss.

That nobody has seen before with the pharmaceutical product will that's why we're really excited about it Peter were were running out of time don't have insurance cover what are you -- Yeah I think go we've had some really good conversations with side insurance companies -- -- employers.

But originally you know right off the gate when we.

-- launched the product is going to be largely cash paid product.

But we're hoping to get -- -- status.

And ensuring -- coverage probably within a year or so thereafter launch.

We do have time for just one more I'm just wondering is if if this drug is only for the obese -- a lot of people of course -- just wanna lose weight no matter what will it be exclusively for the obese.

Well is full obese patients and the definition of that is somebody whose BMI is thirty.

If you have a BMI of 270 higher.

And -- risk factors such as high blood pressure diabetes.

Or high cholesterol you are eligible for this therapy.

Body mass index is BMI good to see you Peter -- congratulate I think our search for years routes appear this is terrific thank you very much.

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