Exciting new research has been announced by the American College of Cardiology regarding the weight loss drug Taranabant. The study has shown that the new drug has a weight-loss result that is nearly as good as Acomplia (Rimonabant) but at one tenth of the dosage of its precursor in this new classification of drugs which target the endocannabinoid system. The study has also shown, however, that Taranabant has the same psychiatric side effects which stopped Acomplia from being licensed in the United States.
The producers of the drug, Merck, said that the two-year trial of Taranabant resulted in patients taking a 2mg dose losing an average of 14.5 pounds compared to a weight loss of 5.7 pounds for the patients that were placed on a placebo. While this result is extremely encouraging, it was also discovered that in the higher doses of 4mg and 6mg Taranabant had a higher incidence of psychiatric side effects than the 2mg dose. For this reason Merck has decided to continue its development of the drug focusing on the 2mg dose.
So how do the psychiatric side effects of a 2mg dose of Taranabant compare with a 20mg dose of Rimonabant? Well, so far, it is too early to make any real comparisons as the measuring and recording of these effects has recently been changed due to a more rigorous approval that has been introduced by the FDA (The American Food and Drug Administration.)
The incidence of psychiatric side effects of Taranabant was 28 percent at 2mg, 40 percent at 4mg and 38 percent at 6mg, though the severity of these side effects has not been released.
Merck has announced that it is to continue working to arrive at a point where Taranabant may be submitted to the FDA for approval as a drug that produces dramatic weight loss at the lowest possible dose.