Sanofi-Aventis drug Acomplia recommended by NICE

Sanofi-Aventis has announced that its drug Acomplia (rimbonabant) has been recommended for inclusion in the NHS Guidance by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE).

The institute has issued a positive final appraisal determination for the compound recommending its use within its licensed indications as an adjunct to diet and exercise in England and Wales.

It is recommended for patients who are overweight or obese and who are intolerant of, contraindicated to, or have had an inadequate response to other anti-obesity agents previously reviewed by the institute.

Dr David Haslam, clinical director of the National Obesity Forum, said: “It is excellent news that NICE has recognised that doctors should be able to prescribe rimonabant on the NHS for the right patient.”

He added that these patients are at risk at developing type 2 diabetes and heart disease, making it vital for doctors to have a complete range of options to help them lose weight and reduce their risk of disease.

Dr Haslam notes that, together with diet and exercise, rimbonabant can provider clinically meaningful weight loss and improve risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

In July 2007, Sanovi-Aventis reported that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use of the European Medicines Agency has conducted a re-evaluation and had apporved the labelling update for Acomplia in Europe.