Rimonabant: From RIO to Ban

Endocannabinoid antagonism as a treatment for obesity and the metabolic syndrome became a hugely anticipated area of pharmacology at the start of the century. The CB1 receptor antagonist Rimonabant entered the European mass market on the back of several trials showing weight loss benefits alongside...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Amir H. Sam, Victoria Salem, Mohammad A. Ghatei
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Hindawi Limited 2011-01-01
Series:Journal of Obesity
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2011/432607
Description
Summary:Endocannabinoid antagonism as a treatment for obesity and the metabolic syndrome became a hugely anticipated area of pharmacology at the start of the century. The CB1 receptor antagonist Rimonabant entered the European mass market on the back of several trials showing weight loss benefits alongside improvements in numerous other elements of the metabolic syndrome. However, the drug was quickly withdrawn due to the emergence of significant side effects—notably severe mood disorders. This paper provides a brief overview of the Rimonabant story and places the recent spate of FDA rejections of other centrally acting weight loss drugs entering Phase 3 trials in this context.
ISSN:2090-0708
2090-0716