German court upholds block on Sanofi's Acomplia
FRANKFURT, March 4 (Reuters) - The social court in Berlin-Brandenburg has upheld a previous court ruling that patients taking Sanofi-Aventis's (SASY.PA) anti-obesity pill Acomplia will not be reimbursed by their health insurers, Germany's joint healthcare committee G-BA said on Tuesday.
The move is another setback for the new drug in Europe's biggest market. Expectations for Acomplia sales are already low, following a 2007 U.S. recommendation not to approve the medicine.
In June last year, the social court in Berlin agreed with the G-BA -- a self-regulating body of doctors and health insurers that makes drug recommendations -- to classify Acomplia as a "lifestyle" drug.
According to German law, medical treatment will not be reimbursed by the state-run health insurance companies if it simply emphasises an improvement in the quality of life.
Acomplia, known in the United States as Zimulti, has European Union marketing approval for use along with diet and exercise to treat obese patients or overweight people who also have type 2 diabetes or high cholesterol.
It suffered a major blow in June when U.S. experts recommended against approval after the drug was linked to suicidal thoughts and depression in some patients. Sanofi shares were 0.1 percent lower at 48.85 euros by 0855 GMT, while the DJ Stoxx pharma index .SXDP rose 0.3 percent. (Reporting by Mantik Kusjanto; Editing by Quentin Bryar)
