Emerging drugs for obesity: linking novel biological mechanisms to pharmaceutical pipelines.
Obesity is associated with hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidaemias and metabolic syndrome, and causes substantial morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular and other diseases. The cost to treat obesity and its complications in the US has increased steeply and is currently estimated to be USD 100 billion. Current therapy for obesity is mainly based on changes in lifestyle that often fail. Existing pharmacological treatment is marginally efficient and poorly tolerated. The discovery of leptin and related neural mechanisms of energy metabolism regulation has opened the doors to potential targets for new antiobesity drugs. In this review, new pharmacological targets are discussed and an update on the development of emerging antiobesity drugs is provided. Despite intense investigation, the pipelines for antiobesity drugs in late stages of development are relatively empty. Breakthrough treatments for obesity may take some years to emerge. Clinical trials will be necessary to clarify the impact of new antiobesity drugs on hard cardiovascular and metabolic end points.
Correia
Marcelo L G
ML
Department of Internal Medicine, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA. marcelo-correia@uiowa.edu
Haynes
William G
WG
D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004345:Drug Industry / Q000639:trends*; D015507:Drugs, Investigational / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*
D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents; D015507:Drugs, Investigational