SANOFI-AVENTIS TO CONTEST GERMAN DECISION ON ACOMPLIA

French drugmaker sanofi-aventis announced that the German Ministry of Health has ratified the recommendation of the German Federal Joint Committee to classify the company's weight-loss drug Acomplia (rimonabant) as a non-reimbursable, or lifestyle, drug.

Sanofi-aventis considers the proposed classification of Acomplia unjustified and intends to challenge the decision in court.

In November 2006 the Pharmaceutical Benefits Board of Sweden decided to reimburse Acomplia for treating obese patients with a body mass index (BMI) of more than 35 kg/m2, overweight patients with BMI of more than 28 kg/m2 and patients with Type 2 diabetes or dyslipideamia. The drug has also received reimbursement in Denmark and Ireland.

Acomplia, which belongs to a class of drugs called cannabinoid type 1 receptor blockers, was approved in the European Union for promoting weight loss as an adjunct to diet and exercise in June 2006. Sanofi-aventis' application for Acomplia in the U.S. is still pending.