P57 hoodia is a plant based product for the care 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 started from the hoodia gordonil Cactus plant species.

p57 hoodia is a fully defined extract created from a single plant which is subject to patent applications covering raw materials, active chemicals and mode of action. Phytopharm hoodia correspond to have novel pharmacological properties and may in fact be the first ever true appetite suppressant to be located. Unlike many of the conventional treatments current times available it has no effects on behaviour. The mechanism of action is novel and distinct from those of currently available compounds. Efficacy has been established with a thoughtful weight loss and a best value emergent safety profile.

hoodia safety considerable progress has been achieved with this project. Phase I of p57 hoodia clinical development carries on alongside an extensive research program. In parallel to these activities, further 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 p57 hoodia in humans express 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 at the moment been established.

p57 hoodia is an appetite suppressant with novel pharmacological properties that has no effects on behavior. It is educed from the hoodia cactus, a South African plant which has been eaten by Bushmen for thousands of years to stave 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 p57 hoodia 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 possible competitors useful information and propose that people to best hoodia“.