Metabolic commences phase IIb obesity drug trial

Melbourne-based Metabolic Pharmaceuticals (ASX:MBP) has started recruiting subjects in a low dose phase IIb clinical trial of its obesity drug AOD9604.

The new phase IIb study, known as the "Options" study, will test three different daily doses -- tablets of 1mg, 0.5mg, 0.25mg AOD9604 active ingredient and placebo -- following analysis of results from last year's phase IIb study that suggested the optimal dosage of AOD9604 was potentially below the lowest dose of 1mg used in the trial.

The study will enrol 480 obese men and women at sixteen clinical trial sites in Australia located in Melbourne, Sydney, Wollongong, Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth and Canberra.

"Given the encouraging trial results to date and the potential of this drug there will no doubt be substantial local and international interest in this trial and we are very excited about is prospects," said Metabolic CEO Dr Roland Scollay in a statement.

Two sites have been granted ethics approval and the approval process is advanced at the other sites.

One site has begun recruiting patients and it is expected that within the next few weeks the first subject will be treated, and screening of candidates for enrolment into the study will begin.

The last subject is expected to complete the study in early 2007.