Panel Rejects New Weight-Loss Drug

Federal Panel Rejects Sanofi-Aventis Weight-Loss Drug Rimonabant

WASHINGTON-- Federal health advisers unanimously rejected a weight-loss drug Wednesday after hearing testimony that it increases the risk of suicidal thoughts, even in patients without a history of depression.

The manufacturer, Sanofi-Aventis SA, further failed to show the drug rimonabant is safe, the panel said.

The back-to-back, 14-0 votes by the expert panel made it unlikely the Food and Drug Administration will approve the drug. The agency usually follows its panel's advice, but it isn't required to do so.

"There is a reasonable suspicion we better learn some more and watch this affair more closely before we launch into massive use of this drug," said panelist Dr. Jules Hirsch, a senior physician at New York's Rockefeller University.


SNY fell $1.31 in afternoon trading to close at 43.07 per share. In afterhours trading, the trend continued losing another 59 cents a share.

This is a cannaboid receptor binding drug---yes that one. I will post the mechanism of action soon. It's very interesting how this drug supposedly suppresses appetite.

I have internet connection problems this week, soon to be remedied, so that mechanism will be posted ASAP. thanks.