Xenical ®, only prescription drug prescription for the loss of weight available in the EU.

Madrid, February 2010.- Xenical ® (orlistat 120 mg) is has recently become the only medication to lose weight available in the European Union with prescription. Roche drug indicated for the loss of weight in obese patients and patients with overweight with risk factors, has more than 10 years in the market and its safety and efficacy are backed by extensive clinical studies.

Xenical ® acts locally at the intestinal level avoiding the absorption of 30% of ingested fat, stimulating effective weight loss. This mechanism of action prevents observed cardiovascular and nervous system adverse effects with the appetite suppressants of central action, at the same time that can improve cardiovascular risk factors associated with obesity.

Xenical ® takes more than one decade at the disposal of the people who are obese and overweight (with associated risk factors) and health professionals treating them, and has shown complete with changes in lifestyle (calorie diet), is safe and effective for achieving weight loss significantly and maintained. The safety and efficacy of Xenical ® have been documented in a comprehensive program of clinical trials with more than 100 essays of phase III/IV at more than 30,000 patients (the largest program of clinical trials conducted to a drug for weight loss). Xenical ® has managed to more than 35 millions of patients around the world.

Xenical ® also helps improve modifiable risk factors of cardiovascular diseases related to weight, such as hypertension and dyslipidaemia.

In this regard, studies in obese patients with co-morbidities treated with Xenical ® it has been observed:

-an improvement of the blood in 1 year pressure and improvements held blood pressure over 4 years
-an improvement of the overall lipid profile in patients obese and overweight
-A reduction in LDL cholesterol out of weight loss
-a reduction in the incidence and progression of type 2 diabetes

according to the World Health Organization, obesity is one growing global impact. Around 1.6 billion adults overweight they suffer and there are at least 400 million obese adults across the globe. Many people are trying to lose weight and need all possible support. It is not easy to modify the style of life, but Xenical ® can help these people to lose weight effectively ”, says Eugene Tierney of the Global strategy of products of Roche Group.

Obviously, it is important that physicians are available treatments to help their patients to lose weight, but have to make sure that this treatment does not exacerbate other co-morbidities. By the way works, Xenical ® is not only a safe and effective treatment that helps patients to achieve a considerable reduction of weight, but that also has benefits in the co-morbidities associated as cardiovascular disease and diabetes, two of the most serious diseases at present. Note that 1 kilogram of weight loss can reduce by 16% the risk of incidence of diabetes ”, adds Tierney.

Excess weight is associated with a number of health implications that pose a risk to life, such as cardiovascular disease, leading cause of death in the world, that destroys the lives of 17 million people each year. Excess weight also increases the risk of developing other health problems, such as diabetes, certain types of cancer, reproductive disorders, disease of gallbladder, respiratory disorders and diseases in joints.

About Xenical ® (orlistat 120 mg)

Xenical ® is the only drug available prescription which acts directly at the intestinal level avoiding 30% of ingested fat absorption, stimulate weight loss effectively. The efficacy and safety of Xenical ® has demonstrated in an extensive programme of clinical trials with more than 100 trials of phase III/IV at more than 30,000 patients. Xenical ® is the medicine for losing weight that has been studied in more depth in the world, and the only drug to lose weight that has been evaluated up to 4 years. It is possible to lose up to twice the weight with Xenical ® when compared with changes only in the way of life. Xenical ® also improves cardiovascular risk factors and reduces the development of type 2 associated with obesity, diabetes to improve also the components of the metabolic syndrome, XENDOS was the first study which demonstrated that treatment with a medication for weight loss, Xenical ®, can significantly reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Xenical ® is tolerated well and, unlike the appetite suppressants, does not act on the brain. More than 35 million patients have been treated worldwide with Xenical ® from its marketing in 1998. Xenical ® is licensed for use in more than 130 countries.

Roche

Roche, whose headquarters is located in Basel (Switzerland), is a leading company in the health sector, focusing on research and with the combined power of the farmacéutica-diagnóstica integration. Roche is the largest biotechnology company in the world and has truly differentiated areas medicines in Oncology, virology, inflammation and central nervous system. Roche also is the world leader in in vitro diagnosis, including the histological diagnosis of cancer, and a pioneer in diabetes control. The strategy of Roche in personalized medicine aims to provide medicines and diagnostic tools which make tangible improvements in the health, quality of life and the life expectancy of patients. In 2008, Roche had over 80,000 employees worldwide and invested almost 9 billion Swiss francs in research and development. Sales reached the figure of 45,360 million Swiss francs. Genentech (United States) is a member of full ownership of the Roche Group. Roche holds a majority stake in Chugai Pharmaceutical (Japan).