A year has passed since Procter and Gamble announced a deal with Cleveland Clinic to market an over-the-counter trimethylamine inhibitor drug. Who is the tma-inhibitor for ?
The 'drug' is intended for the 'atherosclerosis' market, which is one of the main causes of diseases (e.g. heart disease). This is why we can be sure it will be created. In 2011 Hazen et al at Cleveland Clinic put forward a theory that trimethylamine-n-oxide may be a main factor in causing atherosclerosis. It's not known how currently accepted this theory is among atherosclerosis experts.
What's this to do with systemic body odor ?
Currently trimethylamine (TMA) is the only fairly well documented volatile identified as causing 'systemic/metabolic body odor'. This new pill will inhibit TMA formation in the gut from it's precursors (e.g. choline). If you think TMA is the only source of your SBO then this would be an ideal therapy. But I suspect those with FMO3 weakness may be vulnerable to all FMO3 substrates (mainly certain many sulfides and amines), so I am a bit concerned it may not be ideal, but we will see. It's a lucky break for TMAU people that TMAO has been suggested as a CVD cause, and the best way to block it is at the pre TMA stage. They mention they could have targeted the TMA - TMAO stage but this would have made CVD patients smell of fish. Lucky for us.
When will it be available ?
Studies can often take maybe 5 years. 1 year has gone. They have only done mice-work so far. No word of human trials. But since it is likely a natural product it may not have to go through rigorous safety trials. So it could be anytime really, but it could be 4+ years.
What else we know so far
It won't be 3,3 dimethyl butanol (DMB). In an interview Dr Hazen said this is too weak for a pill. But they likely have stronger alternatives, so that's not a bad thing.
It will be a natural product probably.
Probably still has to go through human trials but not as long as normal for a non-natural drug.
You won't need a prescription and can buy over the counter.
Look out for :
Any research papers or interviews by Hazen and/or Wang, or Cleveland Heartlab.
I am pretty sure once the pill is available the SBO community will quickly know. I'm hopeful it will be on the sooner side but we need to wait I guess. These sort of research products, you hear nothing until they make a press release or publish a paper, or perhaps elaborate in an interview.
Hopefulness rating (for TMAU) : 9/10
Links :
P&G press release : Aug 2015
Cleveland Clinic TMAO paper 2011
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