A study presented at the 43rd Annual meeting of the European Association for



the Study of Diabetes (EASD) showed the first direct evidence of the effects

and safety of Acomplia (Rimonabant) on human visceral fat. Obesity is traditionally

determined by the BMI (body mass index), which does not take into account the

type and distribution of fat. There are two types of fat; subcutaneous fat,

located directly under the skin and visceral fat, which is distributed and wrapped

around the organs in the abdomen. Excess visceral fat present in patients with

abdominal obesity leads to a number of ailments such as lipid disorders, type

2 diabetes and cardio-metabolic disease; all of which are prerequisites for

cardiovascular diseases. "What most people do not know is that abdominal

obesity is the main predictor for cardiovascular disease." Say Dr. Wael

Al Mahmeed, Vice President of the Emirates Cardiac Society "To be more

specific, fat around the organs, known as visceral or the bad fat, is the main

ingredient for future cardiovascular complications. This type of fat can only

be measured using a CT scan, but for the sake of efficiency a BMI test or the

waist circumference can be taken." The primary endpoint of the study, conducted

on 526 obese patients that suffer from either glucose intolerance, type 2 diabetes,

low levels of HDL cholesterol or high blood pressure, was reduction in body

weight. Important secondary endpoints included waist circumference, visceral

fat area. Acomplia demonstrated significant improvement on all theses endpoints

from baseline to six months compared to the placebo. Acomplia also demonstrated

a favorable safety profile when results showed a 7.6% discontinuation rate in

the placebo group versus a minor 4.5% in the Acomplia group. About Sanofi-Aventis:

Sanofi-aventis is one of the world leaders in the pharmaceutical industry, ranking

number one in Europe. Backed by a world-class R&D organisation, sanofi-aventis

is developing leading positions in seven major therapeutic areas: cardiovascular,

thrombosis, oncology, metabolic diseases, central nervous system, internal medicine

and vaccines. Sanofi-aventis is listed in Paris (EURONEXT: SAN) and in New York

(NYSE: SNY).