Long-term effect of CB1 blockade with rimonabant on cardiometabolic risk factors: two year results from the RIO-Europe Study.

AIMS: Rimonabant, the first selective cannabinoid type 1 receptor blocker, has been shown to produce weight loss and improvements in several cardiometabolic risk factors over 1 year. We report the 2 year efficacy and tolerability data of rimonabant. METHODS AND RESULTS: Patients with a body mass index > or =30 or >27 kg/m(2) with treated/untreated hypertension, dyslipidaemia, or both, were randomized to double-blind treatment with placebo, rimonabant 5 or 20 mg once daily plus a calorie-restricted diet for 2 years. Weight loss from baseline to 2 years in the intention-to-treat population was significantly greater with rimonabant 20 mg (mean +/- SD: -5.5 +/- 7.7 kg; P 11) were similar in all treatment groups. CONCLUSION: Rimonabant 20 mg over 2 years promoted clinically relevant and durable weight loss and improvements in cardiometabolic risk factors