Rimonabant launched for the obese and overweight
The first drug in a new class of anti-obesity medicines has been launched this week by sanofi aventis.
Rimonabant (Acomplia) is a selective cannabinoid-1 (CB1) receptor antagonist, licensed as an adjunct to diet and exercise, for the treatment of obese patients or patients who are overweight but with an associated risk factor (such as type 2 diabetes or dyslipidaemia).
At the launch of the medicine, Julian Halcox, British Heart Foundation senior lecturer in cardiology, University College London, explained how the drug was designed to target the endocannabinoid system.
CB1 receptors, part of the endocannabinoid system, are located within the brain, liver, gastrointestinal tract, muscle and abdominal fat. According to Dr Halcox, over-activity of the endocannabinoid system — which occurs in obese patients — is associated with increased calorie intake, increased abdominal fat, dyslipidaemia and impaired glucose metabolism.
According to John Betteridge, professor of endocrinology and metabolism, University College London, rimonabant is a “classic example of pharmaceutical drug development”, where it was proposed that blocking the CB1 receptor could tackle the underlying problem.
Professor Betteridge said that in four clinical trials patients taking rimonabant achieved significant reductions in body weight and waist circumference compared with placebo.
He also presented data showing improvements in triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and HbA1c — “metabolic effects beyond those due to a reduction in weight”. He suggested that about half of the improvement could be attributed to a specific effect of the drug. |
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