The mechanisms by which the weight loss drug Xenical works have been noted by researchers studying the onset of cancer and may be useful to developing new cancer treatments. The key ingredient in Xenical namely orlistat has helped scientists work out that by blocking a particular fat producing enzyme they can also beat cancer.

The research that was conducted at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine made extensive use of the way that the weight loss drug Xenical worked and thus they were able to see that a particular tubular network inside the human body's cells known as the endoplasmic reticulum is controlled by an enzyme which is closely linked to the enlargement of a tumor and its ongoing development.

The scientists noted that the particular enzyme called ‘fatty acid synthase’ that produces the fat in cells is essential for the endoplasmic reticulum to function properly and thus by blocking the enzyme they could also stop tumor-cells from growing. The scientists said that the study of this Xenical mechanism may mean that they will be able to develop cancer treatments that will not also attack and harm healthy tissue that is near a tumor.

Xenical is very popular as a fat loss drug as it works very differently to most weight loss drugs that suppress appetite. Xenical prevents the absorption of a portion of the fat that is found in a normal meal and thus it is excreted out of the body. As much as one third of all fat in a normal meal will therefore not go through the digestive system in people who use the Xenical drug.

Xenical is made by the Swiss drug company Roche and has been on sale for quite a few years. In the UK the drug requires a prescription but in some countries it can be purchased over the counter in pharmacies.