GlaxoSmithKline Plc, Europe's biggest drugmaker, told investors on February 10th that it was abandoning development of yet another novel drug that was going to help people fight obesity.

The obesity pill, 771, which was designed to work by mimicking a naturally occurring chemical that signals a feeling of fullness or "satiety" after eating, was viewed as a potential competitor to the Sanofi-Aventis drug Acomplia.

But a GlaxoSmithKline spokesperson said Thurday that testing of 711 was discontinued because participants were not losing enough weight.

"It didn't show sufficient efficacy to be competitive," said spokesman Rick Koening.

Analysts at one point had said that 771 might have sales potential of $2 billion a year.