Table 1.
Drugs most used in the treatment of obesity, with emphasis on the target and mechanism of action of these compounds
| Name | Alternative name | Target | Mechanism of action | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RM-493, formerly | RM-493, formerly | Metabolism | MC4R-target agonist | Chen et al., 2015 |
| BIM-22493, | BIM-22493, | |||
| IRC-022493 | IRC-022493 | |||
| Velneperit | S-2367 | Nervous system | Neuropeptide Y5 receptor antagonist | Powell et al., 2011 |
| Zonisamide-bupropion | Empatic | Nervous system | Antiepileptic drug with actions on sodium channel modulation, carbonic anhydrate inhibition, dopamine, and serotonin transmission | Gadde et al., 2007 |
| Semaglutide | NN9536; oral GLP-1 agonists:semaglutide, TTP054/TTP-054 and ZYOGI |
Digestive system | Weight loss by reducing hunger occurs with GLP-1 receptor agonists drugs, which stimulate insulin secretion and reduce glucagon secretion | Ahren et al., 2017; Blundell et al., 2017 |
| Davalintide (AC2307), KBP-088, KP-042 (dual amylin and calcitonin receptor agonists) |
Davalintide (AC2307), KBP- 088, KP-042(dual amylin and calcitonin receptor agonists) | Digestive system | Pancreatic B-cell hormone which acts as a centrally acting satiety signal, reducing food intake, slowing gastric emptying, and reducing postprandial glucagon secretion; human amylin receptor subtypes are complexes of calcitonin receptor | Mack et al., 2010 |
| ZP4165 | ZP4165 | Metabolism | Increased GIP signaling in adipose tissue induced insulin resistance, lipid storage, and hepatic steatosis; combination GLP-1 agonist and GIP and enhance GLP-1 induced weight loss | N0rregaard et al., 2018 |
| Oxyntomodulin | MED10382, G530S (glucagon analogue+ semaglutide), GC- co-agonist 1177 | Metabolism | Though glucagon monotherapy causes the hyperglycemic effect, combination GLP-1 agonist and glucagon was noted to induce anorexia in studies | Wynne et al., 2006 |
| PYY | PYY | Nervous and digestive system | Anorexigenic peptide which decreases gastric motility, increases satiety, and inhibits NPY receptors | Kumar et al., 2020 |
| Orlistat | Digestive system and metabolism | Orlistat is a selective inhibitor of gastric and pancreatic lipases. It works by covalently binding to the serine residue of the active site of lipases, causing partial inhibition of the hydrolysis of triglycerides. | Heck et al., 2000 | |
| Lorcasein | Belviq | Nervous system | Lorcaserin acts on 5-HT2C receptors in the hypothalamus, stimulating 5-HT2C receptors triggering the release of the stimulating hormone alpha-melanocortin, causing appetite suppression. | Martin et al., 2011 |
| Liraglutide | Metabolism | Liraglutide is a peptide-1 receptor agonist. The increase in cyclic AMP stimulates insulin release and inhibits glucagon release, resulting in blood sugar control. | Vanderheiden et al., 2016 | |
| Phentermine | Adipex-P | Nervous system | Phentermine is a sympathomimetic amine of the amphetamine class, which are anorexinogenic drugs. The primary action in the treatment of obesity has not been described, but it is known that amphetamines have the stimulation of the nervous system and elevation of blood pressure as pharmacological actions. | Kiortsis, 2013 |
| Tesofensine | Nervous system | Tesofensine is a Serotonin-norepinephrine-dopamine-reuptake-inhibitor (SNDRI). The pharmacological basis for the weight loss action has not been resolved, but it is known that theofensine acts in the suppression of appetite. | Coulter et al., 2018 | |
| Methylphenidate | Ritalina | Nervous system | Methylphenidate acts on the inhibition of dopamine reuptake and transport, responsible for motivation, reward, attention, and impulsivity. | Sahin et al., 2014 |
5-HT2C: Serotonin receptor; AMP: adenosine monophosphate; GIP: gastric inhibitory polypeptide; GLP-1: glucagon-like peptide-1; IRC: immortal rat chondrocyte; KBP: key bioscience peptide; MC4R: melanocortin-4 receptor; NPY: neuropeotide Y; PYY: pancreatic peptide YY; SNDRI: serotonin norepinephrine dopamine reuptake inhibitor; ZP4165: GIP analogue.