A new drug may offer a promising new treatment option for obesity.
The drug, called “setmelanotide”, works by targeting a hormone that regulates hunger and satiety. Specifically, it activates a protein called MC4R, which is responsible for signaling the brain that the body is full.
In a small clinical trial, setmelanotide was found to be effective in reducing weight in obese patients who were not able to lose weight through diet and exercise alone. On average, patients treated with the drug lost 5% of their body weight after 16 weeks of treatment.
There are currently no approved drugs for the treatment of obesity, so the finding is significant. If larger clinical trials are successful, setmelanotide could offer a new hope for the millions of people struggling with this condition.
Obesity is a major health problem worldwide, and is a major risk factor for a number of chronic diseases, including heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. Despite the many health risks associated with obesity, effective treatments remain elusive.
Setmelanotide shows promise as a potential new treatment for obesity, and larger clinical trials are needed to confirm its efficacy and safety. If successful, this drug could offer a much-needed new option for the millions of people struggling to lose weight.
A new appetite suppressant drug has been shown to be effective in treating obesity, according to a new study.
The drug, called lorcaserin, was tested on 2,000 obese and overweight adults over a period of 56 weeks. Participants were given either a 10mg or 20mg dose of the drug, or a placebo.
Those who took the drug lost an average of 5% of their body weight, compared to those who took the placebo, who lost an average of 2%.
The drug is thought to work by targeting the brain’s serotonin receptors, which are responsible for regulating appetite.
If the drug is approved by the FDA, it could be available to patients within a few years. This would be a welcome addition to the limited arsenal of treatments currently available to those struggling with obesity.
