‘Munchies’ Diet Drug Rejected by FDA

A diet drug that works by suppressing the same hunger system in the brain triggered by marijuana use has been rejected by an U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory panel, which cited concerns about the drug’s side effects, Pharmaceutical News reported June 14.[P]Rimonabant is sold by Sanofi-Aventis under the name Acomplia in 18 other countries, but FDA said that many users reported such side effects as depression, anxiety and sleep problems when taking the drug. The pharmaceutical firm had proposed that patients be screened for mental-health problems before being prescribed the drug, which would have been sold in the U.S. under the brand name Zimulti.[P]Studies showed the drug was effective in helping patients lose weight by targeting the same part of the brain that causes hunger and food cravings among marijuana users.