Significant results for Shionogi obesity drug

Japan's Shionogi says that two distinct year-long studies of velneperit, a novel neuropeptide Y (NPY) Y5 receptor antagonist also known as  S-2367, each met their primary endpoint demonstrating a  statistically-significant reduction in body weight.

The firm assessed the long-term efficacy and safety of velneperit over  the course of one year in two double-blind, placebo-controlled studies,  comprising a total randomized population of 1,566 obese subjects. Each  trial assessed the drug under different reduced-calorie and low-calorie  diet conditions.

In the strongest performing group relative to placebo, subjects  undergoing velneperit treatment of 800mg once-daily in combination with  a reduced-calorie diet responded with 5% or greater weight loss at a  percentage nearly three times higher than those on placebo (35% versus  12%). In addition, velneperit treatment resulted in  statistically-significant differences with respect to secondary  parameters such as decreased waist circumference and improved serum  lipid profile.