Switches drive sales, but safety still a concern

Drug Store News, May 23, 2005 by Michael Johnsen

WEIGHT LOSS

Weight loss is one category that ought to experience significant traffic throughout the next year. Consumers still find the option of weight loss in a bottle appealing, even after the FDA banned the maligned herbal ingredient ephedra from store shelves last year. Trim Spa's marketing campaign featuring a slimmed-down Anna Nicole Smith has moved the brand to the top of the diet tablet charts, with sales of $28.3 million in drug stores, representing growth of 25.7 percent for the 52 weeks ended March 20, according to IRI.

Once king of the diet aid tablet mountain, two non-ephedra Metabolife SKUs pulled in $14.9 million between them, showing that the brand has survived despite any ephedra-related stigma.

Of course, ephedra could make a comeback this year. Neutraceutical last month won its suit against the FDA, overturning the agency's ban on ephedra 10 mg, potentially paving the way for a reintroduction.

In another move that could bring new life to the OTC diet category, GlaxoSmithKline is moving forward with its application to switch Orlistat, a prescription drug marketed against obesity. Should Orlistat gain OTC status, it would be the first time an OTC medicine would be indicated for weight loss since PPA was pulled off shelves in 2000.