Drugmaker Protests for the Premature Halting of the Trial for the Weight Loss Drug

August 18th, 2010 by Jamie

Drugmaker Protests for the Premature Halting of the Trial for the Weight Loss Drug The popular Rimonabant diet pill was approved in Europe last 2007. It was considered as the ...

Drugmaker Protests for the Premature Halting of the Trial for the Weight Loss Drug

The popular Rimonabant diet pill was approved in Europe last 2007. It was considered as the wonder drug for weight loss while also providing other benefits such as lowering the blood cholesterol levels and blood glucose levels.

However, after a major trial found out that the use of Rimonabant is associated with high suicide rates, the officials in Europe have ordered to stop the use of this weight loss pill and pulled it out of the European market. The drug was never licensed in the United States of America but it was sold in Europe in different names such as Slimona, Riobant, and Acomplia.

This drug works by targeting the brain receptors that are responsible for processing mood and appetite.

According to the maker of the drug, the trial for Rimonabant is used to test whether the drug has effects to the heart such as preventing heart problems. However, four people who participated in the said trial who were given Rimonabant had killed themselves while other nine have attempted suicide. Apparently, the study has to be stopped because of the tragedies that occurred.

The drug maker claimed that if the study was allowed to finish, they could have found out whether Rimonabant has heart benefits and that it might still be useful for weight loss.

As for the European authorities, if suicidal tendencies would be the side effect of the weight loss drug, it would be best to use a much safer alternative for losing weight.

Europe Banned an Anti-obesity Drug