The data presented at EASD were a new finding of the XENDOS study (XENical in the prevention of Diabetes in Obese Subjects)2. The results of the 4 year landmark XENDOS study involving 3304 patients demonstrated that the weight loss medication Xenical can prevent or delay the development of type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, the XENDOS study data showed significant and sustained weight loss with Xenical over the long term.
Commenting on the study, XENDOS co-principal investigator Dr Jarl Torgerson said: "This study shows that the scale of the type 2 diabetes epidemic is alarming. Studies like the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) have shown that lifestyle change is the basis of preventing diabetes, but by adding Xenical people could go even further in preventing the disease, and that's a real breakthrough."
XENDOS study results showed that:
- 28.3% of obese people had previously undetected or untreated diabetes or pre-diabetes (IGT) The risk of having type 2 diabetes increased with increasing Body Mass Index (BMI), increasing age, and male gender
- The risk of developing type 2 diabetes was 37% lower in people treated with Xenical plus lifestyle intervention compared with lifestyle intervention alone
- Weight loss, both in the short and the long term, was significantly greater with Xenical plus lifestyle intervention compared with lifestyle intervention alone (-11.4 vs -7.5 kg at one year and -6.9 vs -4.1kg at four years)
- Xenical-treated patients had significant, sustained, long-term improvements in cardiovascular risk factors such as blood pressure and lipid profiles compared with lifestyle intervention alone
- Treatment with Xenical for 4 years was safe and well-tolerated. Xenical is now the only weight loss medication available whose safety has been studied for this length of time.
Overweight and type 2 diabetes
Excess weight is well recognised as the most important modifiable risk factor for the development of type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes often goes undetected and therefore untreated for many years. During this period, diabetic complications such as heart disease, nerve damage and stroke can develop.
Worldwide, the prevalence of overweight and obesity is growing at an epidemic rate, with a corresponding surge in the incidence of type 2 diabetes. It is estimated that there are at least 150 million people in the world with diabetes and that type 2 diabetes accounts for 90 per cent of all cases. This figure is expected to double over the next 25 years. Because of the severe health and cost complications of type 2 diabetes, organisations such as the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) have called for increased efforts to prevent the development of type 2 diabetes. President of the IDF, Professor George Alberti, stated recently that "The importance of diabetes prevention cannot be underestimated".3
Notes to Editors:
About Xenical
Xenical is the only available weight loss medication that works locally in the gut to prevent dietary fat absorption by around 30 per cent to effectively promote weight loss. It is an effective therapy that not only helps patients lose weight, but also helps them maintain their weight loss. Xenical is well tolerated and unlike appetite suppressants, it does not act on the brain. Since it was first marketed in 1998, there have been more than 13.5 million patient treatments with Xenical world-wide. Xenical is licensed for weight management in 149 countries around the world.
For further information please go to: www.managingyourweight.com
About Xenical Weight Management Programmes
Roche has developed Xenical weight management programmes (WMPs) for healthcare professionals to use with their patients. The programme aims to help patients set and reach realistic weight goals while modifying their dietary intake and behaviour in the long-term. The programmes are individually tailored to help people achieve their weight loss goals, and maintain weight loss, through healthy eating, physical activity, behaviour modification and pharmacotherapy.
Roche provides free patient support programmes in around 50 countries worldwide to help people taking Xenical. Recent data demonstrated that patients enrolled in Xenical WMPs can significantly improve the levels of weight loss achieved and can increase their overall satisfaction and compliance with treatment.
About Roche
Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Roche is one of the world's leading research-orientated healthcare groups in the fields of pharmaceuticals, diagnostics and vitamins. Roche's innovative products and services address prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases, thus enhancing people's well-being and quality of life.
Roche International Award for Obesity Journalism The Roche International Award for Obesity Journalism is a new initiative to recognise excellence in overweight and obesity reporting. For more information and submission details, please visit www.managingyourweight.com/formedia/formedia_ja.cfm or contact obesityjournalism@shirehealthinternational.com.
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References:
Torgerson J. et al "Prevalence of Undetected Diabetes and Impaired Glucose Tolerance in an Obese Population". Poster presented at EASD, Budapest, 2002.
Sjöström L. et al "XENDOS (XENical in the prevention of Diabetes in Obese Subjects): A Landmark Study". Poster presented at ICO, Sao Paulo, 2002.
Kumanyika S, Jeffrey RW, Morabia A, et al. Obesity prevention: the case for action. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 2002;26: 425-36