The French laboratory Sanofi-Aventis is not certain that its anti-obesity drug, Acomplia, to obtain the desired success, said Monday, Sept. 17, Marc Cluzel, head of research…

Until his dismissal in June by the U.S. authorities, Sanofi-Aventis was expecting about $ 3 billion in worldwide sales for this product.

But he recalled that the American health authorities tended to show more and more finicky.

Acomplia is available on the Old Continent since June 2006. In France, it is reimbursed, but this is not the case everywhere.

In Europe, the drug agency (EMEA), was maintained on July 19 last, the authorization of sale of anti-obesity pill from Sanofi. This authority had been challenged because of side effects of medication, which would increase suicidal thoughts, even among patients without a history of depression. The EMEA had finally concluded that the benefits of Acomplia exceeded the risks, except in patients suffering from major depressive illness and in antidepressant treatment.

The EMEA is a decentralized body of the European Union, which evaluates the applications placed on the market for 27 medical treatment.

In the U.S., a committee of 14 experts consulted by the Federal Agency (FDA) of drugs were made, by unanimity, a negative opinion on the marketing of the anti-obesity. Citing the same reasons.

To facilitate its marketing, the number 4 global pharmaceutical industry had decided to amend the record of the drug in the direction recommended by the EMEA.


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