Recent advances in the discovery of melanin-concentrating hormone receptor antagonists

In recent years, obesity therapy has become a major focus of pharmaceutical research. The worldwide market for obesity therapeutics has increased dramatically over tile past decade, and obesity has been linked with numerous co-morbidities. Tile discovery of the role of melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) in the regulation of energy homeostasis has attracted tile interest of several research groups worldwide. In conjunction with energy balance, a growing body of evidence suggests that MCH is also involved in the regulation of certain types of behavior, including anxiety and depression. Major developments in tile discovery of MCH receptor antagonists over tile past year, including the demonstration of oral efficacy in several rodent models for the treatment of obesity, as well as depression and anxiety, will be highlighted in this review.