Treatment with rimonabant [Acomplia], a selective CB1receptor blocker, is effective in reducing bodyweight in overweight/obese patients with untreated dyslipidaemia, and also results in prolonged cessation of smoking without significant weight gain, according to two phase III studies presented at the 53rd Annual Scientific Session of the American College of Cardiology [New Orleans, US; March 2004].1In the first study, prolonged abstinence from smoking was achieved in significantly more rimonabant 20mg, compared with placebo, recipients; no significant increase in bodyweight was observed among these patients. The second study showed that rimonabant was effective in reducing bodyweight and waist circumference, and improving serum lipid profiles, in overweight or obese patients with dyslipidaemia. Furthermore, a significant reduction from baseline in the number of patients with metabolic syndrome was observed with rimonabant 20mg. These studies suggest that, subject to approval, rimonabant will be the first drug to target multiple risk factors for cardiovascular disease.