Regulation of appetite to treat obesity

Abstract

Obesity has escalated into a pandemic over the past few decades. In turn, research efforts have sought to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of energy balance. A host of endogenous mediators regulate appetite and metabolism, and thereby control both short- and long-term energy balance. These mediators, which include gut, pancreatic and adipose neuropeptides, have been targeted in the development of anti-obesity pharmacotherapy, with the goal of amplifying anorexigenic and lipolytic signaling or blocking orexigenic and lipogenic signaling. This article presents the efficacy and safety of these anti-obesity drugs.

Keywords::

• appetite control
• neuropeptides
• obesity
• pharmacotherapy

Financial & competing interests disclosure

Support was provided by NIH grants R01 CA75123, R01 CA95026, RC1 CA75123 and P30 CA56036 and from Targeted Diagnostic and Therapeutics, Inc. (Scott A Waldman). Michael A Valentino is the recipient of a predoctoral fellowship from the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America Foundation. Francheska Colon-Gonzalez is the recipient of a post-doctoral fellowship from the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America Foundation Foundation. Scott A Waldman is the Samuel MV Hamilton Endowed Professor. Scott A Waldman is also the Chair of the Data Safety Monitoring Board for the C-Cure Trial sponsored by Cardio3 Biosciences; and the Chair (uncompensated) of the Scientific Advisory Board to Targeted Diagnostics and Therapeutics, Inc. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.