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).