The investigational drug rimonabant has churned up a lot of excitement thanks to its success so far in producing weight loss and smoking cessation during several clinical trials.

In this trial, 1045 individuals with type 2 diabetes were randomized to receive either 5 mg of rimonabant, 20 mg of rimonabant, or placebo. All patients were on non-insulin diabetic therapy (metformin or a sulfonylurea drug). After 1 year, the group taking the higher dose of rimonabant had significant reductions in weight and waist circumference.

They also had significantly reduced hemoglobin A1C levels, a finding that reflects improved glucose control. Finally, they had significantly improved HDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and reduced systolic blood pressure.

These results of RIO-Diabetes appear similar to the results reported in earlier trials with rimonabant - but for the first time the effect of this drug now has been documented in patients with diabetes, a group typically particularly resistant to weight loss.