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December 5, 2006

Second Study Confirms Diabetes Drug Rimonabant Controls Blood Sugar And Body Weight

Topics: Medicine

This drug sounds almost too good to be true. A new study suggests that rimonabant (trade name: Acomplia), approved in Europe but not yet approved for release in the United States, can achieve improvement in blood glucose with the added benefit of significant weight loss and improvement in other risk factors (it even helps in smoking cessation).

Rimonabant works by blocking endogenous cannabinoid binding to neuronal CB1 receptors.

Activation of these receptors by endoegenous cannabinoids, such as anadamide, increases appetite. It is the most advanced endocannabinoid receptor antagonist in clinical development and offers a novel therapeutic approach to appetite control and weight reduction.

The drug also has potential as a treatment for smoking cessation because the endocannabinoid system is involved in the body's response to tobacco dependence.

Rimonabant has already received preliminary approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for weight loss and should be released sometime next year.

Cross posted from New Hope Blog.

Posted by Richard at December 5, 2006 10:42 PM

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