title: Rimonabant: just an antiobesity drug? Current evidence on its pleiotropic effects.
abstract: The advent of the highly selective cannabinoid receptor (CB1) antagonist, rimonabant (SR141716; Acomplia) can revolutionize the ability of the clinicians to manage obesity. Large-scale clinical trials have demonstrated that rimonabant therapy can reduce obesity. Although, the precise mechanisms of action of rimonabant have to be further dissected, it is emerging, from both preclinical and clinical research, that not only is rimonabant an antiobesity drug, but also its pleiotropic functions affect a broad range of diseases, from obesity-related comorbidities to drug dependence and cancer. Here we review recent data from the literature and discuss the full pharmacological potential of this drug.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Salerno, Fisciano, Salerno, Italy. maubiful@unisa.It
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bifulco
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Grimaldi
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gazzerro
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pisanti
authors.forename: Antonietta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Santoro
mesh_terms: D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D009765:Obesity / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010880:Piperidines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D043884:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D000077285:Rimonabant; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D010880:Piperidines; D011720:Pyrazoles; D043884:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1; D000077285:Rimonabant