Recent advances in the development of melanocortin-4 receptor agonists

Abstract

The melanocortin receptors are an area of intense current research, both in academia and in the pharmaceutical industry. The large body of evidence to support a critical role for the melanocortin-4 receptor (MC₄R) in energy homeostasis (as well as indications of involvement in other interesting physiological processes) has prompted research efforts to investigate its pharmacology. This review will focus on recent advances toward the identification of potential therapeutic agents working via activation of MC₄R, supplementing the more general review on ‘Ligands to the melanocortins’ published in this journal in 2001 [1]. Several patent applications have been filed in the last year on compounds with MC₄R agonist activity for a variety of indications, most notably the treatment of feeding and body weight disorders and sexual dysfunction.

• 7-transmembrane (7-TM) receptors
• melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R)
• melanocortins
• obesity
• sexual function