The Hoodia Gordonii Discovery

A few years ago scientists researching in the Kalahari were amazed to discover the properties of the Hoodia Gordonii Cactus.

The San Tribesmen have for thousands of years been munching on the cactus as an appetite suppressant.

Food in the region is scarce and the huntsmen sometimes go on long hunting trips which can last for days. In order for them to be able to bring home the food they have caught, they cut a slice of Hoodia Gordonii Cactus and munch on it. This relieves them of hunger and thirst for the duration of the trip, enabling them to take home the food and feed their families without having the desire or temptation to eat it on the way home.

Scientists were dumbfounded and soon after drugs companies descended on the region to study the cactus.

It was not long before Pfizer, the US drugs giant responsible for viagra, had via one of its sister companies, patented the active ingredient in the cactus, and started a phase 1 program to develop an anti-obesity drug. They discovered that the active ingredient in Hoodia Gordonii sent a signal to the brain 10000 times stronger than glucose, telling you that you did not need to eat, were in a state of satiety. Since then trials have continued yet the drug itself is up to four years away from full development.

England UK 2003

A small group of English businessmen on hearing the news of the Hoodia Gordonii cactus decided to develop a natural anti obesity tablet. They discovered that despite Pfizer paying hundreds of millions of dollars to copyright the active ingredient in the cactus, that developing a natural product derived from the cactus did not infringe any copyright regulations. Also they would be able to develop the tablet within months and not have to conform to any pharmeceutical regulations as the product would be 100% natural.