Phytopharm Plc, which is working with Unilever to develop a slimming aid from a rare South African cactus-like plant, said today the new product could join the Anglo-Dutch group's "Slim Fast" range.
Britain's Phytopharm has long been working to develop a weight-loss product based on the Hoodia plant, which has been used by the San people of the Kalahari desert for thousands of years to stave off hunger during hunting trips.
It initially hoped to make a medicine. But after losing its pharmaceutical partner, Pfizer, it turned its attention to dietary foods and signed up Unilever as a partner.
With 70 percent of the US population estimated to be overweight - and this rate growing by about 7 per cent a year - Unilever hopes to generate $1 billion of revenues from Hoodia-based products.
Phytopharm, which also develops medicines from plants, said revenues rose 81 per cent to 1.59 million pounds in the six months to February 28th, with the bulk coming from Unilever.