SERENADE: the Study Evaluating Rimonabant Efficacy in Drug-naive Diabetic Patients: effects of monotherapy with rimonabant, the first selective CB1 receptor antagonist, on glycemic control, body weight, and lipid profile in drug-naive type 2 diabetes.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to assess the glucose-lowering efficacy and safety of rimonabant monotherapy in drug-naive type 2 diabetic patients.


METHODS
The Study Evaluating Rimonabant Efficacy in Drug-Naive Diabetic Patients (SERENADE) was a 6-month, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 20 mg/day rimonabant in drug-naive patients with type 2 diabetes (A1C 7-10%). The primary end point was A1C change from baseline; secondary end points included body weight, waist circumference, and lipid profile changes.


RESULTS
A total of 281 patients were randomly assigned; 278 were exposed to treatment, and 236 (84.9%) completed the study. Baseline A1C (7.9%) was reduced by -0.8% with rimonabant versus -0.3% with placebo (Delta A1C -0.51%; P = 0.0002), with a larger rimonabant effect in patients with baseline A1C >or=8.5% (Delta A1C -1.25%; P = 0.0009). Weight loss from baseline was -6.7 kg with rimonabant versus -2.8 kg with placebo (Delta weight -3.8 kg; P < 0.0001). Rimonabant induced improvements from baseline in waist circumference (-6 vs. -2 cm; P < 0.0001), fasting plasma glucose (-0.9 vs. -0.1 mmol/l; P = 0.0012), triglycerides (-16.3 vs. +4.4%; P = 0.0031), and HDL cholesterol (+10.1 vs. +3.2%; P < 0.0001). Adverse events of interest that occurred more frequently with rimonabant versus placebo were dizziness (10.9 vs. 2.1%), nausea (8.7 vs. 3.6%), anxiety (5.8 vs. 3.6%), depressed mood (5.8 vs. 0.7%), and paresthesia (2.9 vs. 1.4%).


CONCLUSIONS
Rimonabant monotherapy resulted in meaningful improvements in glycemic control, body weight, and lipid profile in drug-naive type 2 diabetic patients. Further ongoing studies will better establish the benefit-to-risk profile of rimonabant and define its place in type 2 diabetes management.
Rosenstock
Julio
J
Dallas Diabetes and Endocrine Center, Dallas, Texas, USA. juliorosenstock@dallasdiabetes.com
Hollander
Priscilla
P
Chevalier
Soazig
S
Iranmanesh
Ali
A
D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects; D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010880:Piperidines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D043884:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D000077285:Rimonabant; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D001786:Blood Glucose; D008055:Lipids; D010880:Piperidines; D011720:Pyrazoles; D043884:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1; D000077285:Rimonabant