Better Body from a Pill?

Skin cancer researchers have stumbled upon a pill that can make its users tan, sexy and thin but the so-called Barbie pill, which is still in the experimental stage, is raising concern in some quarters from those who say the quest for perfection could send the wrong message.

The synthetic hormone, known as Melanotan, has been put on the pharmaceutical fast track because of the promise that it holds. In clinical trials, the pill suppressed the tester's appetite, boosted their sex drive and tanned their skin.

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Researchers tout the pill as a groundbreaking finding.

"I would say we've hit upon a very important discovery," said Dr. Mac Hadley, one of the researchers who has been involved in the effort. "A great hope for mankind."

Others outside the medical laboratory are not as convinced.

"I would say you're nuts," one woman said.

"I doubt it would work," said another skeptic.

Scientists at the University of Arizona aim to prove the doubters wrong.

"You could theoretically get tanned and have a lot of erectile activity and you might actually start to lose weight," said Dr. Robert Dorr, a researcher at the school who has been involved in the effort to create the pill.

The reported results from the Barbie Drug have grabbed headlines but it resulted from serious work. Skin cancer researchers decided to test a hormone called Melanotan II in a group of men. The scientists hoped to create a natural tan for users without benefit of sunlight. In addition to the glowing skin, scientists stumbled on a surprising side effect.

"After about 10 days of taking Melanotan II, I lost about 10 pounds," said Hadley, who joined the clinical trial after the testers began reporting promising results.

There have been other side effects.

"We know that it causes short term feelings of fullness or nausea," Dorr said.

The hormone also triggers immediate sexual benefits.

Said Dorr: "Even at the very low starting dose, every subject had an erection."

Several pharmaceutical companies are developing customized drugs based on Melanotan II although each firm is focusing on different aspects of the drug's benefits.

An Australian biotechnology company, known as EpiTan, is working to produce its own version of the drug. The company is developing its pill to target those who want tans but don't want the dangerous side effects that can come from the sun's UV rays.

"It is a total duplicate of the normal tanning process in humans except that it occurs without sunlight," said Terry Winters, a spokesman for the company.

U.S. researchers are also trying to formulate a nasal spray, known as PT 141, which would boost the sex drive of men and women.

"When we give it to humans it produces blood flow into the genitalia," said Carl Spana, spokesman for Palatin Technologies, the company that is formulating the drug.

If the drugs make it to market they will be marketed for a specific use. But researchers say it's a win-win situation for patients.

If you take it as a sexual enhancer it would also cause tanning if you used it frequently," Dorr said. "And it would have the weight loss potential."

And yet, some have raised questions about the pill.

Dr. Monica Ramirez, a psychologist and author of "Never Good Enough" says she sees the benefits but she worries about the psychological problems the drug could foster.

"Any pill that can help people lose weight, get a tan and improve their sex life has got to be a winner for a lot of people," Ramirez said. "It just raises the bar so now everybody is expected to be thin enough, beautiful enough and sexy enough.

"And it just creates a whole new way to feel like a failure," she said.

Despite those worries, many people say the Barbie drug is something they would seriously consider taking.

"Sure I'd take it," one man said.

"I think it's a great pill," one woman said.

Work is ongoing to devise a similar pill that targets weight loss but it is still in its initial stages. EpiTan has completed the second phase of clinical trials in Australia and the company expects to ask the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to allow it to start trials in the U.S. by the middle of next year.

PT-141, the sexual enhancement drug, has completed two phases of clinical trials in the U.S. already.