The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has notified Sanofi-Aventis that its much anticipated drug Acomplia (rimonabant) is "not approvable" as an aid for smoking cessation, according to the French pharmaceutical manufacturer.

No details were immediately provided by either Sanofi or the FDA as to why Acomplia has been rejected as an aid to smoking cessation.

While Sanofi initially held high hopes for Acomplia not only as a weight-loss drug but also as a drug that could help cigarette smokers quit, it never published the results of two of its smoking-cessation studies.

Asked about this, a public relations representative of Sanofi on January 18, 2006 told us "we have a publication plan in place and publications are expected shortly."