SWEDEN TO REIMBURSE SANOFI-AVENTIS' ACOMPLIA

Sanofi-aventis has announced that Acomplia (rimonabant), recently approved in the European Union, has been granted reimbursement by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Board of Sweden for treatment of obese patients with a body mass index (BMI) of more than 35 kg/m2 or overweight patients with BMI of more than 28 kg/m2 and Type 2 diabetes or dyslipideamia. Acomplia became available to patients in Sweden as of Friday.

Acomplia, which targets multiple cardiometabolic risk factors, has also received reimbursement in Denmark and Ireland.

Cardiometabolic risk factors can lead people to develop cardiovascular disease and/or Type 2 diabetes. The main risk factors are abdominal obesity, high triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol level, insulin resistance, elevated glucose and high blood pressure.

Acomplia works by selectively blocking CB1 receptors found in the brain and peripheral organs important in glucose and lipid metabolism, including adipose tissue, the liver, gastrointestinal tract and muscle. The drug acts to decrease the overactivity of the endocannabinoid system, which is believed to play an important role in regulating body weight and in controlling energy balance, as well as glucose and lipid metabolism.