Obesity Drug Development Summit. 21-22 July, 2005, Arlington, VA, USA

The Center for Business Intelligence (CBI) presented this 2-day conference as part of its business of discovery series. The meeting, which targeted senior level industry personnel, highlighted the latest developments in the search for effective and safe obesity drugs. The adverse health consequences and growing prevalence of obesity make this condition a major worldwide public health concern. Consistent with the multi-faceted nature of the body weight regulatory system, the presentations featured a variety of approaches aimed at different neuroendocrine and peripheral tissue targets. Clinical as well as basic data on agents in various stages of development were presented. These included rimonabant, an inhibitor of the endocannabinoid system, which has undergone extensive phase III clinical testing, and two selective 5-HT(2C) agonists, ATH-88651 (Athersys Inc) and APD-356 (Arena Pharmaceuticals Inc), which are in earlier stage development. Synthetic analogs of the gut and islet peptide hormones, PYY3-36 and amylin, which are in early-stage development as anorexigenic agents, were also discussed. More basic research-oriented presentations featured the potential therapeutic utility of melanocortin 4 receptor agonists and the inhibition of the gastric peptide ghrelin and the enzymes diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 and 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1. Another presentation addressed the problem of leptin resistance. A novel technology that measures extracellular flux rates and its application in screening obesity agents that target thermogenesis was also discussed.