Latest news

• FDA panel backs Novo Nordisk's liraglutide for obesity

  At the moment, the only drug treatment available in the EU is Roche's Xenical (orlistat) or GlaxoSmithKline's lower dose, over-the-counter version Alli, with more profoundly obese patients

• GSK launches Facebook weight loss campaign for Alli

  social forum for programme users and a range of recipes linked to the Alli diet plan. ... To date, more than 177, 000 people have 'liked' Alli's Facebook page, with users interacting with one another and with experts.

• GSK sells Lucozade and Ribena for £1.35bn

  These plans were first made public in April 2011 when GSK said it intended to sell off several over-the-counter (OTC) brands, including weight-management drug Alli and the painkillers

• GSK fails to find global buyer for OTC brand portfolio

  GSK had originally intended to agree a single global deal for all the OTC products, including its weight loss treatment Alli, with US private equity firm Thomas H Lee Partners (THL) ... So it still needs a European buyer for the products, and global

• Report suggests GSK on brink of consumer health sale

  US private equity firm Thomas H Lee Partners seen as lead candidate to take over various brands including Alli, Solpadeine and Zantac. ... weight loss product Alli (orlistat), analgesics such as Solpadeine and OTC version of gastrointestinal drug Zantac