Strong early data for Vernalis obesity drug

UK-based Vernalis has reported striking weight-loss data from a Phase I study with its drug candidate V24343 in overweight and mildly obese people. The CB1 antagonist, which was evaluated in a total of 66 volunteers, was generally well-tolerated with no serious adverse events, while efficacy was also shown by clinically-relevant falls in body fat, energy intake and waist circumference. The firm also noted that preclinical data showed significant safety differences from Sanofi-Aventis' CB1 antagonist, rimonabant.

In this trial, there were clear beneficial effects of V24343 at all dose levels across multiple parameters including weight loss, waist circumference, body fat and energy intake. Average weight loss after 16 days was 0.5kg for placebo, 2.6kg for those on 5mg of V24343 and 5.0kg with a 100mg dose. This compares very favorably with results for rimonabant in a similar trial in obese volunteers over one week, which showed placebo-corrected weight loss of 0.7kg.

In the Phase I study, the drug was also generally well-tolerated over the dose range with two patients withdrawing due to adverse events (nausea and vomiting) in the highest dose cohorts. According to Simon Sturge, chief executive of Vernalis, said, "we stated from the outset of this trial that it is our intention to seek a partner for this program, a process which is enhanced by such promising data."