Phentermine plus topiramate for the treatment of obesity

Abstract

A novel combination therapy is currently being investigated for the treatment of obesity. Phentermine plus topiramate has shown efficacy in both Phase II and III trials as compared with either drug used alone. With average 2-year weight loss as high as 10.5% and reduction of up to 76% in the incidence of progression of Type II diabetes, combination phentermine plus topiramate may provide significant benefit in conjunction with behavioral modification in the management of obesity. However, as with any new pharmacologic treatment option, the risk/benefit profile needs to be carefully assessed.

Keywords::

• combination therapy
• obesity
• phentermine
• topiramate
• weight loss

Financial & competing interests disclosure

CM Apovian has received research support from Eli Lilly and Company, Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer, Inc., sanofi-aventis, Orexigen Therapeutics, MetaProteomics, and the Dr Robert C and Veronica Atkins Foundation, and has served as a consultant on the advisory boards for Allergan, Inc., Orexigen Therapeutics, Merck, Johnson & Johnson, Abbott Laboratories, Arena Pharmaceuticals, sanofi-aventis and Zafgen. LJ Aronne has received research support from Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Hoffmann la Roche and Novo Nordisk and has served as a consultant on the advisory boards for Abbott Laboratories, Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Novo Nordisk, Orexigen Therapeutics, Vivus, Inc., GlaxoSmithKline, Takeda Pharmaceuticals and Zafgen. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.