Rimonabant is currently available on prescription throughout Europe branded as Acomplia.The drug first went on sale in the United Kingdom in July 2006, since then many other European countries have also welcomed the use of Rimonabant.

Sanofi Aventis proposed to market Rimonabant within the US under the name of Zimulti. However, despite initial enthusiasm surrounding the drug, in June 2007 and in contrast to Europe, the FDA´s (Food and Drug Administration) advisory council, the EMDAC (Endocrinologic and Metabolic Drugs Advisory Committee) refused to recommend the drug as safe for use within the US. Click here to read more.

Although Sanofi Aventis does not have the Indian Government's approval to sell Rimonabant within the country, copies of the drug are already being produced by other pharmaceutical companies and sold without a prescription over the counter in many Indian pharmacies. 

Sanofi Aventis never obtained patent protection in India and two companies, Torrent Pharmaceuticals and Zydus Cadila have replicated Rimonabant and are selling their own versions under the names of Rimoslim and Slimona. Monthly supplies of both pills are sold at a fraction of the price compared to the amount Europeans pay for those manufactured by Sanofi Aventis.