A new obesity wonder drug, Acomplia (rimonabant), makes patients lose 10% of their body weight, according to clinical trials carried out by Sanofi-Aventis, the third largest pharmaceutical company in the world.

Sanofi-Aventis are hoping to have this drug on the market if all goes well.

According to the trials, patients on a 20mg dose lost 8.6kg while those on a placebo lost 2.3kg. This latest trial confirms a previous study (March 2004).

11.55% of the patients on the trial had to drop out due to nausea and dizziness. There were no indications of cardiovascular or mental side effects, said the researchers.

If all goes well, said Sanofi-Aventis, the drug could be on the market in 2006. If it does, Acomplia could become one of the best selling drugs ever.

Cases of Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes are growing at alarming rates in many countries in the world.