Anti-obesity drugs

Background: Recent discoveries about the metabolic and genetic control systems that govern regulation of body weight and energy expenditure have afforded the opportunity to develop pharmacological agents that can be used as adjunctive treatments for patients with obesity. However, the scarcity of medications available or those that have made it to Phase III trials reflects the difficult challenge of manipulating the biology of appetite regulation. Objective: The aim of this study was to inform health professionals about new anti-obesity medications that target neuronal systems within the central nervous system and peripheral humoral proteins that send signals to the central nervous system. Methods: A critical review was conducted of information available from the medical literature. Results/conclusions: An emerging theme is to use combination therapies that are directed towards several targets or leverage existing gastrointestinal satiety hormonal signals. By using combination therapies, it is anticipated that greater weight loss will be achieved compared to monotherapy.