European Medicines Agency Warns on Psychiatric Side Effects on Anti-Obesity Drug Acomplia



(CardiovascularWeb News)

July 21, 2007



Acomplia (rimonabant) is the first in a new class of anti-obesity drugs that suppresses a person’s appetite by

blocking the CB1 cannabinoid receptor in the brain. It has the potential in reducing cardiovascular

complications in obese patients.



However, the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) said that Acomplia (Sanofi-Aventis) has psychiatric side

effects such as depression and suicidal thoughts in a subgroup of patients. EMEA now recommends against

the use of drug in patients with major depression or undergoing anti-depression therapy. In the meantime, they

have decided Acomplia can stay on the market because of its benefit to obese patients but the drug should

carry a warning label telling physicians and patients that the therapy should discontinue if signs of depression

appear.



Rimonabant, to be marketed under the name Zimulti in the US market, was also not recommended by US

advisory panel in United States last month because of its psychiatric effect.

