Authors' objectives:

To summarise the currently available evidence on rimonabant for smoking cessation, weight loss and cardiovascular risk factors of overweight/obesity.

Authors' recommendations: Rimonabant (Acomplia) is a selective cannabinoid (CB1) receptor blocker, that is in phase III clinical trials as an aid to smoking cessation and maintenance of abstinence, for weight loss and maintenance of weight loss, and the management of metabolic disorders related to being overweight or obese. Results from an unpublished randomised controlled trial (RCT) of 787 smokers suggest that rimonabant at a dose of 20mg doubled the odds of quitting smoking versus placebo, with an absence of weight gain in successful quitters. Results from an unpublished RCT of rimonabant in 1,036 overweight or obese patients found that 58.4% of patients lost over 5% of their body weight when treated for one year with rimonabant (20mg), as compared to 19.5% of patients in the placebo group. Rimonabant had positive effects abdominal obesity, lipid profiles, insulin sensitivity, adipokines (adiponectin) and inflammatory markers (CRP).

Authors' methods: Overview

Project Status: Completed

Year Published: 2004

URL for published report: http://www.psy-flow.com/sites/psy-flow/files/docs/flow.pdf

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: England, United Kingdom

Organisation Name: NIHR Horizon Scanning Centre

Contact Address: The NIHR Horizon Scanning Centre, Department of Public Health, Epidemiology, and Biostatistics, School of Health and Population Sciences, University of Birmingham, 90 Vincent Drive, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2SP. United Kingdom. Tel: +44 121 414 7831, Fax: +44 121 2269

Contact Name: c.packer@bham.ac.uk

Contact Email: c.packer@bham.ac.uk

Copyright: National Horizon Scanning Centre (NHSC)