"Weight loss" drug under scrutiny

It appears that Rimonabant, which was launched in the UK last summer as an aid to weight loss, may not have justified all its claims. It is sold as an appetite suppressant. Research published the Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin suggests the claim that the drug also has a positive impact on the body’s chemistry has not been proved. Manufacturer Sanofi-Aventis claims its product has been shown to cut blood levels of harmful cholesterol, as well as of fats and sugars, to a greater extent than would be expected through weight loss alone. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence is appraising the drug for use on the NHS.

BBC