The US Food and Drug Administration issued an "approvable letter" for Acomplia in February, a step toward its approval for weight control.

The EMEA committee, whose recommendations are usually followed by European Union regulators within three months, recommended approval of the drug -- also known by its chemical name, rimonabant -- for some overweight or obese patients.

But Sanofi failed to win the agency's approval to make Acomplia available as an anti-smoking drug. The EU committee "has not adopted a positive opinion for Acomplia in smoking cessation," the company's statement said, without giving further details.

The FDA also declined to recommend Acomplia's approval as an anti-cigarette addiction treatment in February, and said it needed further information before approving it as a weight-loss tool.

Cosmetic Use Not Recommended

Merrill Lynch raised its 2010 EU revenue forecast for the drug by 50 percent to