Rimonabant News
NICE backs rimonabant for obesity
NICE have approved the use of rimonabant for the treatment of both overweight and obese adults, as an adjunct to a controlled diet and regular exercise, for people who are either intolerant or contra-indicated for orlistat and sibutramine.
Rimonabant was first licensed in 2006 but has suffered a series of setback which have prevented it from becoming the blockbuster drug it was predicted to have been, including a EMEA warning against using the drug in patients with major depression.
But NICE’s decision, in a final appraisal determination published yesterday, means GPs can prescribe it to overweight and obese patients with associated risk factors such as type 2 diabetes or dyslipidaemia.
A recent Pulse investigation found that, with obesity a growing public health problem, GPs are increasingly having referrals for obesity surgery turned down on grounds of cost – and fuelling greated demand for anti-obesity drugs.
Dr David Haslam, clinical director of the NOF said the decision was ‘excellent news.’
‘Patients who are obese or overweight are at significant risk of developing heart disease and type 2 diabetes, so it is vital that doctors have a full range of options, alongside lifestyle interventions, to help patients lose weight and cut their risk of disease.
‘We now need to make sure that when final guidance is issued primary care trusts provide funding to allow doctors to be able to prescribe the medicine to those patients who could benefit from it.’