title: Investigational glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists for the treatment of obesity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Obesity is a worldwide problem predisposing to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), hypertension, cardiovascular disease, cancer and other comorbidities. Lifestyle modification is the first line intervention but adjunctive pharmacotherapy is often required. The GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) were developed primarily for T2DM and they also reduce body weight. Liraglutide was approved for the treatment of obesity and other GLP-1RAs are likely to be suitable for this indication.
  
  
  METHODS
  This review describes the GLP-1RAs that have been approved for the treatment of T2DM as potential candidates for the treatment of obesity and the new agents currently under development which may have advantages in patient adherence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The GLP-1RAs offer a welcome addition to obesity pharmacotherapy. They appear to be free of serious adverse effects although uncertainty remains about possible risks of pancreatitis and neoplasms. However, they have frequent gastrointestinal side effects, particularly nausea, which limits their tolerability. Cardiovascular outcome studies in T2DM support their use and this is likely to increase in both T2DM and obesity. Other GLP-1RAs which can be given by subcutaneous injection once weekly or less frequently or by oral administration would have advantages especially if nausea is less frequent than with liraglutide.
authors: a Research Center for Translational Medicine , Shanghai East Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine , Shanghai , China.|b Department of Medicine & Therapeutics , The Chinese University of Hong Kong , Shatin , Hong Kong.
authors: Brian
authors: B
authors: Tomlinson
authors: b Department of Medicine & Therapeutics , The Chinese University of Hong Kong , Shatin , Hong Kong.
authors: Miao
authors: M
authors: Hu
authors: a Research Center for Translational Medicine , Shanghai East Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine , Shanghai , China.
authors: Yuzhen
authors: Y
authors: Zhang
authors: c Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Wan Fang Hospital , Taipei Medical University , Taipei City , Taiwan.
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Chan
authors: d Department of Cardiac Surgery, Shanghai East Hospital , Tongji University , Shanghai , China.
authors: Zhong-Min
authors: ZM
authors: Liu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D015195:Drug Design; D006801:Humans; D000069450:Liraglutide / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000097789:Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists
chemical_list: D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents; D000069450:Liraglutide; D000097789:Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists
keywords: Efpeglenatide; GLP-1 receptor agonist; ITCA 650; exenatide; liraglutide; obesity; semaglutide