Sanofi-Aventis SA's new diet pill, Acomplia, may get limited sales in Germany because the treatment is being targeted by a national plan to trim health-care spending.

A German panel of doctors and insurers earlier this month recommended the government classify Acomplia as a ``lifestyle'' drug, not one that is necessary for treating a disease. The proposal, if carried out, means the medicine's 100-euro ($127.40) a month cost won't be reimbursed covered by state health insurance plans, and will probably inhibit sales.

The recommendation is part of Germany's strategy to reduce medical expenses, echoing a new round of health-spending cutbacks in several European countries. Rejecting coverage for new and expensive medicines would threaten several drugmakers, such as New York-based Pfizer Inc. and Sanofi, France's largest pharmaceutical company. Some doctors say that taking aim at Acomplia is short-sighted because obesity is becoming a pandemic.

``From a pure medical point of view, this is very sad,'' said Sven Diederich, 43, an endocrinologist with no ties to Sanofi who treats more than 13,000 overweight and diabetic patients a year with his six colleagues. ``It's a real innovation.''

Diederich, a Berlin doctor, prescribed Acomplia to 25 obese patients and the state health insurer is paying, for now. Diederich says Acomplia is the ``best medicine'' he's tried for those whose weight increases the risk of heart attacks and diabetes. Although all the patients lost weight, some may stop taking the drug if the new rule takes effect, Diederich said.