title: Rimonabant.
abstract: Rimonabant is the first of a new class of selective cannabinoid receptor-1 blockers. It reduces the overactivity of the endocannabinoid system, improving lipid and glucose metabolism and regulating food intake and energy balance. In four randomised, double-blind clinical trials in overweight or obese adults with or without type 2 diabetes and/or dyslipidaemia, oral rimonabant 20mg once daily reduced weight and waist circumference to a significantly greater extent than placebo. A significantly greater proportion of rimonabant than placebo recipients achieved the clinically significant weight-loss target of > or =5% or > or =10% of initial weight. Rimonabant was associated with significant improvements in glycaemic control relative to placebo, with approximately equal to 57% of the reduction in glycosylated haemoglobin being independent of the effects of weight loss in one trial. Improvements in other cardiometabolic risk factors (i.e. increases in high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol [HDL-C] and decreases in triglyceride [TG] levels) were significantly greater with rimonabant than with placebo. The improvement in lipid profile also demonstrated a weight-independent effect, with approximately equal to 47-58% of the improvement in HDL-C and TG being beyond that expected through weight loss alone. Rimonabant was generally well tolerated, with most adverse events considered mild to moderate in severity.
authors.affiliation: Wolters Kluwer Health-Adis, 41 Centorian Drive, Mairangi Bay, Auckland 1311, New Zealand. demail@adis.co.nz
authors.forename: Sheridan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Henness
authors.forename: Dean M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: Katherine A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Lyseng-Williamson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004038:Diet, Reducing; D017277:Drug Approval; D005060:Europe; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010880:Piperidines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D043884:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D000077285:Rimonabant
chemical_list: D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents; D001786:Blood Glucose; D010880:Piperidines; D011720:Pyrazoles; D043884:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1; D000077285:Rimonabant