When two year results of the RIO-North America (Rimonabant In Obesity) trial were presented at the American Heart Association (AHA) scientific meeting in New Orleans in November, researchers said additional results from studies underway could be expected by the end of the year.

But seven weeks have passed with no news on when additional data from clinical studies of the use of Acomplia in promoting weight loss or smoking cessation can be expected.

There also has been no recent update on whether the drug's developer, Sanofi-Aventis, still plans to file for U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval in the second quarter of this year.

We recently asked Sanofi-Aventis when they next expected to report Acomplia results, and as of yet have received no reply.

At this point, there are three studies for which no data has been reported -- one study of the role of rimonabant in improving risk factors related to diabetes and two studies of the value of Acomplia in aiding smoking cessation.