Dallas, Texas 03/19/2014 (FINANCIALSTRENDS) – VIVUS, Inc. (NASDAQ:VVUS) is the Mountain View, California-based biopharma company, which has a line of drugs fighting sleep apnea to overweight or diabetes. One of its currently popular drugs, used for weight-management and fighting obesity is Qsymia. However, this is a drug recommended with a diet which is calorie-deficient. The efficacy of the drug is optimized when physical activity too is increased or a strict exercise regime is followed. The initial body mass index in adults at 30 or higher are also indicative of two conditions – hypertension or type 2 diabetes mellitus and higher cholesterol.
VIVUS, Inc.(NASDAQ:VVUS) in its Qsymia drug, has in fact combined two active ingredients from its previously approved drugs. These ingredients are Phentermine as well as topiramate.
Interestingly, VIVUS, Inc.(NASDAQ:VVUS)’s Qsymia has also finished with the second phase of clinical studies for treating two diverse health conditions. The first is sleep apnea and the second type 2 diabetes. Other ingredients known to be included are avanafil or Stendra.
VIVUS, Inc.(NASDAQ:VVUS) has actually had a tough approval-phase for Qsymia, receiving approval as late as 2012. The reasons for the rigorous approval process for weight-loss drugs by FDA was the fen-phen weight loss drug, which though approved by FDA, resulted in major issues.
The current competitors for VIVUS’s Qsymia in the weight-loss drug category are Arena and Orexigne. But VIVUS woes are now overflowing post the activist-led ousting of the management for lack of foresight in introducing Qsymia. The management has rather bullheadly chosen to introduce the drug into the market, without back-up from any other channels, doctors, education or insurance-claims. This had led to zero-growth in the sale of the drug.
VIVUS holds a market capital of $616.60 million and trades on the stock market at infra-day prices of $6.00 to $6.11.