Obesity Drug Pulled From European Market
Acomplia (rimonabant), is being pulled off the European market. Apparently, the obesity drug that once looked to be a big hit for Sanofi-Aventis, is too risky.
The European Medicines Agency (EMEA), the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) counterpart, announced that "the benefits of Acomplia no longer outweigh its risks," particularly the "psychiatric side effects."
Some say the drug has always included side effects--particularly depression. According to the AP (10/24), a study cited by the EMEA revealed "[that] obese or overweight patients taking Acomplia were at approximately double the risk of developing psychiatric disorders than those taking a placebo." Other side effects can include increased blood pressure, panic attacks or psychiatric problems such as anxiety.
Records indicate that Acomplia has been prescribed to 97,000 people in the U.K. and the drugmaker claims that 700,000 worldwide have used the drug. It has been linked to five deaths and 720 adverse drug reactions in Britain since its 2006 launch.
Sanofi has agreed to pull the drug from shelves and be complaint with EMEA and healthcare professionals.
Why is it that Europe seems to always be one step ahead of the United States concerning product safety?
