Would FDA Approval of Obesity Drugs Help Reduce Health Care Costs?
There is renewed attention being given to three obesity drugs that recently received a thumbs-down by the FDA. The drugs are Qnexa, produced by Vivus, a California based company, Lorcaserin, manufactured by Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc. , a California based company, and Contrave, produced by California based Orexigen Therapeutics, Inc. If either of the three drugs eventually receives FDA approval, given the health care cost of obesity, we might assume that the use of the drugs would likely reduce the cost of health care. However, at least one study indicates that weight loss drugs don't necessarily reduce health care costs.
The study was done in Australia. The researchers looked at the costs associated with treating ailments associated with body weight, including hypertension, Type ll diabetes, colon cancer, and heart disease. The two drugs used in the study were Sibutramine (Meridia) and Orlistat (Alli and Xenical).
The researchers concluded that the use of Sibutramine and Orlistat reduced "body weight related disease burden ... by 2% and 1% respectively." Therefore, the researchers concluded that for Australians, weight loss treatment using Sibutramine or Orlistat is not cost effective, because of the modest weight loss, likely weight regain, and a lack of adherence to the regimen.
Although the Australian study may show that some obesity drugs don't reduce health care costs, having one or more of the three drugs, Qnexa, Lorcaserin, or Contrave, available for use as an approved obesity drug will likely encourage medical weight loss providers to find ways to maximize the effectiveness of the drug or drugs. This effort may reduce health care costs.
The Australian results should motivate medical weight loss providers to determine the cost effectiveness of the obesity drugs currently in the FDA pipeline. And when appropriate, depending on which drugs are approved, a provider should of course choose the drug that gives maximum weight loss. The provider should also use proven long term behavior modification treatment approaches to minimize the risk of weight regain, and maximize adherence to the weight loss maintenance program.
The study was done in Australia. The researchers looked at the costs associated with treating ailments associated with body weight, including hypertension, Type ll diabetes, colon cancer, and heart disease. The two drugs used in the study were Sibutramine (Meridia) and Orlistat (Alli and Xenical).
The researchers concluded that the use of Sibutramine and Orlistat reduced "body weight related disease burden ... by 2% and 1% respectively." Therefore, the researchers concluded that for Australians, weight loss treatment using Sibutramine or Orlistat is not cost effective, because of the modest weight loss, likely weight regain, and a lack of adherence to the regimen.
Although the Australian study may show that some obesity drugs don't reduce health care costs, having one or more of the three drugs, Qnexa, Lorcaserin, or Contrave, available for use as an approved obesity drug will likely encourage medical weight loss providers to find ways to maximize the effectiveness of the drug or drugs. This effort may reduce health care costs.
The Australian results should motivate medical weight loss providers to determine the cost effectiveness of the obesity drugs currently in the FDA pipeline. And when appropriate, depending on which drugs are approved, a provider should of course choose the drug that gives maximum weight loss. The provider should also use proven long term behavior modification treatment approaches to minimize the risk of weight regain, and maximize adherence to the weight loss maintenance program.
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posted by Information Uncover at
11:39 AM
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