The weight loss drug Acomplia also known as Rimonabant was developed by the French pharmaceutical company Sanofi-Aventis. The company Sanofi-Aventis is the world's third largest pharmaceutical company headquartered in Paris, France. Their aim is to provide relief for the ever growing number of obese population across the world. The world’s foremost health issue is obesity with concerns growing daily.

The medication Acomplia works by blocking the CB1 receptor, one of two receptors found in a newly described physiological system, which is described as the Endocannabinoid System. The Endocannabinoid System is believed to play a critical role in the regulation of food intake and energy expenditure of our body. This has been a long held belief of many scientists around the world, but coming up with a method of controlling it has not been an easy.

It was found during research that these receptors are present on the surfaces of many cells throughout the body including fat cells and those in the brain region that determines our appetite. Chemical compounds that are produced by our body known as cannabinoid these, latch on to the CB1 receptors, which in overweight and obese individuals are overactive, signals are sent out that prompts people to eat more and put on weight.

By acting to stop the action of cannabinoid receptors Acomplia will be capable of curbing the appetite. Using genetically altered mice that lacked cannabinoid receptors studies have shown that these ate less than their counter parts even after 18 hours of fasting. Similarly, administration of Rimonabant in normal mice has helped in reducing their food intake. These initial tests seem to be conclusive to Sanofi-Aventis and the solution seems that by administering Rimonabant the craving disappears. Imagine what would happen if you could take a pill and completely control your craving for food or tobacco.

Acomplia is not the same as other available diet pills since it works by selectively targeting and blocking the CB1 receptors. The procedure helps in the over-activation of the EC system and makes hunger or cigarette pangs more manageable for its users.

By blocking CB1 receptors Acomplia helps in controlling food cravings and gradually results in weight loss, improvement of cardiovascular/ metabolic risk factors in overweight/obese patients and appears to reduce tobacco dependence without the weight gain.