Rimonabant (Acomplia)

How Rimonabant - Acomplia works

Rimonabant acts by selectively targeting and blocking certain CB1 receptors in the brain which make you feel hungry, and this receptor is also present in the fat tissue. The cells in the body are involved in lipid and glucose metabolism while those in the brain determine appetite.

The drug binds to special chemical receptors in the brain known as endocannabinoid system (EC System). The EC system is a recently characterised physiological system that includes above mentioned CB1 receptors and it has been shown to play an important role in regulating body weight and in controlling energy balance, as well as glucose and lipid (or fat) metabolism.

Rimonabant is the first selective CB1 receptor blocker to be approved for use anywhere in the world.

Rimonabant is believed to work on fat cells to reduce several major risk factors for heart disease and it is known to increase HDL (he good cholesterol) by almost 27%, the highest for any drug.

The company reported new details about Rimonabant in June in which it has claimed the drug also helps in controlling blood sugar.