Author: Wilding J.

Source: Current Drug Targets, Volume 5, Number 3, April 2004 , pp. 325-332(8)

Publisher: Bentham Science Publishers

Abstract:

Obesity is a major health problem and as a result, it is reasonable to consider pharmacological approaches alongside approaches involving diet, physical activity and lifestyle change. The currently available drugs, sibutramine and orlistat, result in modest, clinically worthwhile weight loss, with demonstrable improvements in co-morbidity, but do not meet the often unrealistic expectations of patients or health care professionals managing obese patients. There is insufficient data on efficacy or safety of other agents to support their use. Many new pharmacological approaches are under investigation. These include gut hormones, such a peptide YY (3-36) and cholecystokinin that normally signal satiety, and centrally acting agents such a serotonin agonists, the anticonvulsants topiramate and zonisamide, cannabinoid receptor antagonists and drugs that act on other peptide neurotransmitter systems such as NPY and the melanocortins. Given the multiple pathways that influence energy balance, it is likely that therapies targeting more than one control system may be required in the future to meet the expectations and needs of patients needing to lose weight for medical reasons.

Keywords: anti-obesity drugs; obesity; sibutramine; anticonvulsants topiramate; cannabinoid receptor antagonists

Document Type: Review article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1389450043490479

Affiliations: 1: Reader in Medicine, Diabetes and Endocrinology Clinical Research Group, Department of Medicine, Clinical Sciences Centre, University Hospital Aintree, Longmoor Lane, Liverpool L9 7AL, UK.

Publication date: 2004-04-01

More about this publication?

• Current Drug Targets aims to cover the latest and most outstanding developments on the medicinal chemistry and pharmacology of molecular drug targets e.g. disease specific proteins, receptors, enzymes, genes. Each issue of the journal will be devoted to a single timely topic, with series of in-depth reviews, written by leaders in the field, covering a range of current topics on drug targets. These issues will be organized and led by a guest editor who is a recognized expert in the overall topic. As the discovery, identification, characterisation and validation of novel human drug targets for drug discovery continues to grow; this journal will be essential reading for all pharmaceutical scientists involved in drug discovery and development.

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