Rimonabant Drug

An anti-obesity drug that turns off the same brain circuits that trigger the marijuana-induced munchies appears to produce sustained weight loss among patients who took it in a two-year study. The report, in the Feb. 15 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Assn., also said the drug -- Sanofi-Aventis' Acomplia, or rimonabant -- needed more study for its long-term effects and said the research was limited by a high dropout rate.

Federal health advisors unanimously rejected a weight-loss drug Wednesday after hearing testimony that it increases the risk of suicidal thoughts, even in patients without a history of depression. The manufacturer, Sanofi-Aventis, further failed to show that the drug rimonabant is safe, the panel said. Two 14-0 votes by the expert panel made it unlikely that the Food and Drug Administration would approve the drug. The agency usually follows its panel's advice, but it isn't required to do so.

Federal health advisors unanimously rejected a weight-loss drug Wednesday after hearing testimony that it increases the risk of suicidal thoughts, even in patients without a history of depression. The manufacturer, Sanofi-Aventis, further failed to show that the drug rimonabant is safe, the panel said. Two 14-0 votes by the expert panel made it unlikely that the Food and Drug Administration would approve the drug. The agency usually follows its panel's advice, but it isn't required to do so.

An anti-obesity drug that turns off the same brain circuits that trigger the marijuana-induced munchies appears to produce sustained weight loss among patients who took it in a two-year study. The report, in the Feb. 15 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Assn., also said the drug -- Sanofi-Aventis' Acomplia, or rimonabant -- needed more study for its long-term effects and said the research was limited by a high dropout rate.