A Long Term Study of Sibutramine and the Role of Obesity Management in Relation to Cardiovascular Disease in Overweight and Obese Patients

The purpose of the study was to determine the long-term effect of sibutramine treatment on cardiovascular outcomes in overweight and obese patients at risk of a cardiovascular event.

The study consisted of 4 periods: 1) a Screening Period of approximately 2 weeks; 2) a 6-week Lead-in Period, during which subjects received single-blind sibutramine and country-specific standard of care for weight management. Subjects who discontinued study drug treatment during the Lead-in Period were not randomized and did not participate in the double-blind Treatment Period or the Follow-up Period; 3) a double-blind Treatment Period in which subjects were randomized to 1 of the 2 treatment groups and were followed until the study ended; and 4) a double-blind Follow-up Period, during which randomized subjects who discontinued study drug were followed until the study ended. The Randomization Phase consisted of the double-blind Treatment Period and the double-blind Follow-up Period. Subjects received country-specific standard of care for weight management during the Randomization Phase. An independent events adjudication committee evaluated all potential cardiovascular outcome events and confirmed the outcome events and time of onset to be included in the statistical analyses.