[Rimonabant (Acomplia), specific inhibitor of the endocannabinoid system].

The endocannabinoid system plays a major role in the regulation of body energy by stimulation of the appetite in the hypothalamus and increase of fat accumulation in adipocytes. The blockade of the cannabinoid system (CB1) by the specific inhibitor (rimonabant) decreases food intake and adiposity in animals and in humans. Moreover rimonabant lowers tobacco addiction. Clinical studies (RIO-LIPIDS and RIO-EUROPE) have recently confirmed that rimonabant combined with a hypocaloric diet over 1 year, promoted significant decrease of body weight, waist circumference and improvement of dyslipidemia. Rimonabant was well tolerated with mild and transient side effects. The future place of rimonabant in the strategy of obesity is still to be clarified.