Horizons in the Pharmacotherapy of Obesity.
Obesity drugs have had a chequered history. In the recent past, only the low efficacy, pancreatic lipase inhibitor orlistat was available worldwide and it was little used. The 5HT2C agonist, lorcaserin, and two combinations of old drugs have been approved in the United States but not in Europe. The diabetes drug liraglutide has been approved in both the US and Europe and seems likely to be most widely accepted. In view of regulators' caution in approving obesity drugs, some (like beloranib) may initially be progressed for niche obesity markets. New drug targets have been identified in brown adipose tissue with the aim of not only activating thermogenesis but also increasing the capacity for thermogenesis in this tissue. Attempts are being made to match the efficacy of bariatric surgery by mimicking multiple gut hormones. Unapproved pharmacotherapies are tempting for some patients. Others remain optimistic about more conventional routes to pharmacotherapy.
Clore Laboratory, Buckingham Institute for Translational Medicine, University of Buckingham, Hunter Street, Buckingham, MK18 1EG, UK. jon.arch@buckingham.ac.uk.
Jonathan R S
JR
Arch
D002001:Adipose Tissue, Brown / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001067:Appetite Depressants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001552:Benzazepines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002934:Cinnamates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003510:Cyclohexanes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017277:Drug Approval; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004852:Epoxy Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005060:Europe; D006801:Humans; D007783:Lactones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000069450:Liraglutide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy / Q000639:trends; D009765:Obesity / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000077403:Orlistat; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D022722:Thermogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D014481:United States; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000187:drug effects*
D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents; D001067:Appetite Depressants; D001552:Benzazepines; D002934:Cinnamates; D003510:Cyclohexanes; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004852:Epoxy Compounds; D007783:Lactones; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; C506658:lorcaserin; D000069450:Liraglutide; D000077403:Orlistat; C487952:CKD732
Liraglutide; Niche obesity markets; Obesity drug targets; Obesity drugs; Obesity pharmacotherapy; Unapproved obesity pharmacotherapy