Acomplia moving ahead in Japan despite EU suspension
This article was originally published in Scrip
Executive Summary
The recent temporary suspension for Sanofi-Aventis's obesity drug Acomplia (rimonabant) in the EU has so far not affected development plans in Japan. The product has already completed a Phase IIb trial in this market and a Phase III programme is under way for both weight management and obesity-linked type 2 diabetes, with a submission scheduled for next year. These plans remain unchanged, Sanofi-Aventis's local subsidiary told Scrip. The EU suspension followed a review of the cannabinoid receptor blocker, which raised concerns over psychiatric safety (Scrip Online, October 24th, 2008).