Targeting Energy Expenditure-Drugs for Obesity Treatment

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology and Endocrinology
• Metabolic Diseases
• Drug Development

Background:

• Obesity and overweight are significant global health issues linked to severe diseases and increased mortality, particularly in COVID-19 patients.
• Current pharmaceutical treatments for obesity primarily focus on appetite suppression, reduced energy absorption, or increased energy expenditure.
• Many compounds increasing energy expenditure were repurposed from other medical applications, but new agents are being developed specifically for obesity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and analyze pharmaceutical compounds demonstrating anti-obesity activity via the energy expenditure pathway.
• To classify these compounds based on their development status: FDA-approved, withdrawn, in clinical trials, or under development.
• To detail the chemical nature, molecular targets, mechanisms of action, and current developmental stage of each compound.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and analysis of scientific publications and drug development databases.
• Classification of anti-obesity compounds based on their primary mechanism of action (energy expenditure).
• Categorization of compounds according to their regulatory and development status (FDA-approved, withdrawn, clinical trials, under development).

Main Results:

• Identified and categorized various compounds that increase energy expenditure to combat obesity.
• Detailed the chemical properties, specific targets, and modes of action for each reviewed compound.
• Provided an overview of the development pipeline, highlighting approved drugs, those withdrawn, and candidates in clinical or preclinical stages.

Conclusions:

• Compounds targeting energy expenditure represent a critical area of obesity pharmacotherapy.
• Understanding the development status and mechanisms of these agents is vital for future obesity management strategies.
• This review offers a comprehensive resource for researchers and clinicians on the current landscape of anti-obesity drugs acting through energy expenditure.