VIVUS, Inc. (NASDAQ: VVUS) is trading higher on news that the SEQUEL study results were published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. The SEQUEL study evaluated the long-term efficacy and safety of Qnexa in 676 overweight and obese subjects with cardiometabolic disease.
Shares are up more than 2% on word that on top of 10% sustained weight loss, the study also found that significantly more placebo patients became diabetic over the two years when compared to the patients treated with Qnexa. What VIVUS is communicating is that using Qnexa and modifying lifestyles may offer a safe and effective option for the sustained treatment of obesity. It may also prevent many in this population from progressing to type 2 diabetes.
Average weight loss after 108 weeks was -9.3% for the mid-dose group and -10.5% for the top-dose group; and the placebo group experienced only -1.8% weight loss.
VIVUS also demonstrated that Qnexa patients experienced improved cardiovascular and metabolic risk factors and also showed a decrease in the need for associated medications in comparison with the placebo group. Unfortunately, the placebo group showed a three times greater likelihood to progress to type 2 diabetes than the top-dose group and a two-times greater risk than the mid-dose Qnexa dose group..
Shares closed at $10.72 on Wednesday and the stock is up 2.4% at $10.98 in early trading. The 52-week trading range is $6.00 to $11.48.
JON C. OGG
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