| Copyright (c) 2007 Luke Burgis | | | | get the drug on the market in three to five |
| | | | years. |
| Look good naked without stepping a foot in | | | | |
| the gym. That's the new American dream | | | | Y2R blocker - Georgetown University Medical |
| right? We are a nation obsessed with the | | | | Center researchers have been able to use |
| eternal quest to look great with minimal to | | | | nontoxic chemical injections to add and |
| no effort. Whether you are just too busy to | | | | remove fat from lab mice. To add fat, |
| make it to the gym everyday, or simply need | | | | researchers injected the neurotransmitter NPY |
| that little extra help with your own diet and | | | | into the mice. It's believed that NPY is |
| workout routine, there is good news on the | | | | activated during stress, causing apple-shaped |
| horizon for all of us, new drugs! These | | | | obesity and metabolic syndrome. But |
| upcoming pharmaceutical releases are gearing | | | | administration of the receptor Y2R into the |
| up to take the fat loss market by storm over | | | | mice's abdominal fat prevented both results, |
| the next couple of years so read up and get a | | | | melting the fat. Researchers hope that |
| head start on your beach body competition. | | | | blocking Y2R might work the same way in |
| | | | humans. |
| Pramlintide - Already available in the U.S. | | | | |
| as a diabetes treatment, Pramlintide is being | | | | Rimonabant (Acomplia) - Approved for use in |
| studied by Amylin Pharmaceuticals for its | | | | the European Union as an obesity treatment, |
| ability to produce a feeling of fullness when | | | | rimonabant selectively blocks the CB1 |
| eating and reduce weight. A synthetic form of | | | | receptors of the endocannabinoid system. This |
| a satiety hormone, research has shown that | | | | system of receptors in the brain and body |
| when it's injected into people's bodies | | | | helps regulate food intake and how the body |
| before a meal they eat less, even when given | | | | uses and stores fats and sugars. In clinical |
| foods they crave. Amylin is also looking at | | | | trials, rimonabant has been shown to reduce |
| how the drug works in combination with other | | | | body weight, with side effects such as nausea |
| hormones. | | | | and anxiety. Sanofi-aventis withdrew its FDA |
| | | | new drug application for rimonabant last |
| CP404 - CP404 is a calcium channel blocker | | | | month but is working toward resubmitting. |
| that works as a nasal spray to block | | | | |
| olfactory activity, or our sense of smell, | | | | Suppressing Rip140 - Research has shown that |
| and reduce food intake. Compellis | | | | suppression of receptor-interacting protein |
| Pharmaceuticals is developing the drug, which | | | | 140 (Rip140), a nuclear hormone co-repressor |
| has only been tested on mice so far, says | | | | that regulates fat accumulation, can |
| Compellis CEO Chris Adams. The company plans | | | | accelerate fat burning in animals and fat |
| to begin human testing this year. | | | | cells. Initially the subject of experiments |
| | | | at Imperial College in London, RXi |
| Orlistat (Xenical and alli) - A lipase | | | | Pharmaceuticals is developing the approach as |
| inhibitor, Orlistat promotes weight loss by | | | | a potential obesity or type-2 diabetes |
| preventing the digestion and absorption of | | | | treatment. |
| some fat from food. Unabsorbed fat is then | | | | |
| excreted via the stool. It's available by | | | | Cetilistat - Under development by Alizyme, |
| prescription as Xenical and, since June, as | | | | Cetilistat is a gastrointestinal lipase |
| alli, the only FDA-approved over-the-counter | | | | inhibitor that blocks fat digestion and |
| weight loss product. Orlistat side effects | | | | absorption, causing weight loss. Clinical |
| may include gas with oily spotting and an | | | | trials have shown that the drug has fewer |
| urgent need to have a bowel movement | | | | side effects than Xenical, according to |
| | | | Alizyme. Cetilistat is currently being |
| CLA - A new meta-analysis by University of | | | | prepared for phase-three clinical |
| Wisconsin at Madison researchers has shown | | | | development. |
| that supplements containing conjugated | | | | |
| linoleic acid (CLA), on the market for years, | | | | Meridia - An oral prescription medication, |
| may help people shed fat. It's believed that | | | | Meridia works by affecting the appetite |
| CLA, a fatty acid found in foods of animal | | | | control center in the brain. Most people who |
| origin such as beef, modifies enzymes | | | | lose weight on the drug, in combination with |
| responsible for storing and burning fat. | | | | diet and exercise, do so in the first six |
| Supplements are a good vehicle for CLA | | | | months of treatment, according to its maker, |
| because it would be difficult for people to | | | | Abbott Laboratories. Common side effects |
| get enough of the fatty acid without loading | | | | include headache, dry mouth, constipation and |
| up on saturated fat. | | | | insomnia. |
| | | | |
| PP - Researchers at the Imperial College, | | | | So, have you scoped out the ones that sound |
| London, are looking at how gut | | | | like the next big wonder drug? Well don't |
| hormones--pancreatic polypeptide (PP) in | | | | get too excited, these need a little more |
| particular--affect appetite control. The | | | | time before they are readily available to the |
| hormones are released when a person eats, | | | | public but keep your eyes peeled for them |
| acting as neurotransmitters that tell the | | | | over the next few years. And remember that |
| brain to stop eating. Though it's being | | | | being healthy is more than just a weight |
| developed in the form of an injection, it's | | | | game. Be active, be fit, be healthy, and you |
| possible in the future that it could be | | | | will look good naked. The ultimate goal |
| produced as a patch or gum. Researchers hope | | | | right? |
| to start phase one trials early next year and | | | | |