Rimonabant

Rimonabant is a popular prescription weight loss drug that is currently available in 18 countries (under the name Acomplia - from Sanofi-Aventis). The drug has been before the FDA - awaiting approval for some time now.

Some time last year I wrote a large article that discussed some of the side effects of the drug.

The FDA has now released an analysis - showing why they are taking such a long time to look at Zimulti (Rimonabant).

UPDATE: May 2007. The drug has been re-named Zimulti in the US.

UPDATE Jun 13 2007: An FDA advisory panel of outside experts unanimously recommended that the regulatory agency not approve the novel weight-loss drug for sale in the United States. It is unlikely that this drug will be approved before 2010 (if at all).

UPDATE July 1 2007: Sanofi has now withdrawn it's application for approval in the USA.

Background Rimonabant (brand name Acomplia) has been pitched as the blockbuster weight loss drug of the decade. The company manufacturing the drug, Sanofi-Aventis believes that sales will reach $5.2 billion per year by 2010. That is a staggering amount of money.

Investors are getting swept up in the buzz, and desperate consumers are falling over themselves to get an opportunity to try the drug. However it is currently before the FDA awaiting approval - which some believe may come during early/mid 2006. Acomplia blocks cannabinoid (CB) receptors in the brain. The CB receptors are believed to play a role in controlling food consumption and dependence / habituation. People often refer to the cannabis-induced "munchies" or hunger pangs. Acomplia attempts to do the opposite.

The UK NHS (public health system) is considering approving Acomplia (Rimonabant) for use as early as 2006. The so-called 'wonder drug' has (according to clinical trials) been responsible for a 10% weight loss.

The experimental weight loss drug (acomplia) has now completed it's second trial: The drug, rimonabant, which the French company Sanofi-Aventis hopes to sell under the brand name Acomplia, trimmed nearly 16 pounds on average from people taking the optimal dose for two years, compared with 5.5 pounds for those who took dummy pills, doctors reported Tuesday at a cardiology conference.