Hoodia gordonii powder is a plant based product for the procedure of obesity which is now in clinical development. The product was licensed to Pfizer Inc in 1998 in a global licensing agreement. The cactus from which P57 was created from the hoodia cactus diet Cactus plant species.

hoodia gordonii powder is a fully specified extract created from a single plant which is subject to patent applications encompassing raw materials, active ingredients and mode of action. Hoodia 60 minutes appears to have novel pharmacological properties and may in fact be the first ever true appetite suppressant to be discovered. Unlike many of the conventional treatments presently available it has no effects on behaviour. The mechanism of action is novel and distinct from those of at the moment available compounds. Efficacy has been established with a profound weight loss and a excellent emergent safety profile.

hoodia products considerable progress has been achieved with this project. Phase I of hoodia gordonii powder clinical development goes on alongside an extensive research program. In parallel to these activities, extra plantations for the plant material have been established world-wide in collaboration with the CSIR and Pfizer and a clinical supplies unit, dedicated to the manufacturer of the material, has been opened in South Africa.

Anecdotal reports of the use of hoodia gordonii powder in humans show that it significantly reduces appetite, food intake and body weight. Considerable work has been undertaken to fractionate this plant material and a number of compounds have been isolated from the mixture, some of which have biological activity. The mechanism of action of P57 and its active constituents is currently under investigation. Supplementary pharmacological properties have recently been established.

hoodia gordonii powder is an appetite suppressant with novel pharmacological properties that has no effects on behavior. It is educed from the gordoni, a South African plant which has been eaten by Bushmen for thousands of years to hold off thirst and hunger during long hunting trips. Phytopharm has six patents in progress covering the use of the plant, its active molecules, derivatives and mode of action. Once its patents are published the company will disclose the mode of action. Last year Dr. Richard Dixey, CEO of Phytopharm, told the Wall Street Transcript, “We will not disclose the mode of action at this time because hoodia gordonii powder is the subject of a very active patenting program. There is no point in early disclosure of such information until the patent is eventually undertaken and the information enters the public domain. All one would be doing would be to give ones power competitors useful information and propose that people to cheap hoodia“.