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