Rimonabant Reduces Cardiometabolic Risks and Weight

A treatment regimen that includes a calorie-restricted diet, exercise, and 20 mg/day of the selective cannabinoid-1 receptor blocker rimonabant (Acomplia, Sanofi-Aventis) can significantly improve cardiometabolic risk factors as well as reduce weight and waist size, according to results from the Rimonabant in Obesity (RIO)-North America study recently published in JAMA.

The RIO-North America trial included 3,045 obese or overweight adults with hypertension or dyslipidemia who were treated at 72 medical centers in the U.S. and Canada. Patients were randomized to receive placebo, 5 mg/day rimonabant, or 20 mg/day of rimonabant for 1 year. Completion rates were about 50% in all groups.

Compared with the placebo group, those who received 20 mg rimonabant daily had significantly greater weight loss, reduced waist circumference, and improvements in levels of triglycerides and HDL cholesterol. Although the drug produced modest healthful changes, the high dropout rate and study of the longer-term effects require further research.

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