A New Drug That Fights 2 Bad Habits

A new drug that goes by the name of rimonabant tackles two of the most unhealthy habits known to humans -- smoking and overeating -- and it's getting cautious accolades from experts. "A drug that potentially lowers two types of repetitive behaviors -- maintaining obese weight and also smoking -- is a drug that has interesting properties. While it isn't a magic bullet, it certainly does seem to be effective in both arenas," said American Heart Association President-Elect Dr. Robert H. Eckel. Earlier this year, Sanofi-Synthelabo Inc., the French maker of the double-whammy drug, released two studies suggesting rimonabant (brand name ACOMPLIA) could help smokers quit while helping them stay trim at the same time. It is currently awaiting U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval.