Ukmedix has come across evidence released by a team of scientists from Vanderbilt University in Nashville America that shows that certain females could be at a higher risk when using the new weight loss drug Acomplia. The scientists claim that they have proof that an important chemical that is required for embryos to settle normally in the womb is affected by Acomplia. The chemical called anandamide is responsible for governing the development of the an embryo and any changes in the correct level of it could prove to problematic to a recently pregnant woman.

The weight loss drug Acomplia works as an appetite supressant and in clinical testing has proved to be a very effective weight loss tool and also has been shown to be helpful in reducing high blood pressure levels and also reducing high cholesterol levels. The Acomplia drug's active ingredient rimonabant works by an interaction with anandamide that makes you lose hunger pangs and reduces your appetite. The drug has also been known to help smokers give up the habit however this has not been given clinical approval by the EMEA and the drug is only approved for weight loss.

The drug underwent very extensive testing before it was given the full approval from the EMEA and over six thousand patients in America and in the EU were given the drug. Around 25% of those who used it lost over 10% of their total body mass over the period of a year.

This recent research that looked at the anandamide levels was financed by the United States Government and was recently published by the The Journal of Clinical Investigation. The scientists were concerned that with testing on mice there were serious adverse effects on the normal growth of the embryo.

Sanofi Aventis has been informed about the research and said that it already advised pregnant women not to use the Acomplia drug however some health and safety analysts say that more study should be done with Acomplia and the effect of changing anandamide. The global market for Acomplia could be worth over 3 billion dollars yearly.