Adipose tissue is essential for energy balance, but its dysfunction due to excessive lipid accumulation contributes to metabolic disorders such as insulin resistance, dyslipidemia and type 2 diabetes. Thus, regulating adipogenesis represents a promising strategy for combating obesity-related complications.
Neurocrine Biosciences Inc. has divulged cyclic peptides acting as corticotropin-releasing factor 1 and 2 (CRF1 and CRF2) antagonists reported to be useful for the treatment of congenital adrenal hyperplasia, cancer, osteoporosis, myopathy, hyperglycemia, Cushing syndrome, peptic ulcers and hypertension, among others.
Guangdong Zhongsheng Ruichuang Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. has described glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonists reported to be useful for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, obesity, atherosclerosis, nonalcoholic or metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (NASH/MASH), hyperglycemia, cerebral infarction, hypertension and Parkinson’s disease.
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) is a progressive liver disease that has limited available therapies. Shanghai Minwei Biotechnology Co. Ltd. has developed and presented data for MWN-105, a GLP-1/GIP/FGF21 triple agonist aimed at controlling metabolic dysfunction and fibrosis during MASH.
Insparin is a protein isolated from human adenovirus Ad36 that induces cellular glucose uptake without impacting safety. A preclinical study of insparin looked at its potential antidiabetic effects compared to those of pioglitazone.
Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonism is a validated approach for treating obesity. ECC-4703 is a small molecule and liver-targeting compound developed by Eccogene Co. Ltd. It is an agonist of thyroid hormone receptor β (THR-β) and its metabolic impact on preclinical models of obesity in combination with semaglutide was investigated.
ASC-47 is a thyroid hormone receptor β agonist, muscle-preserving weight loss compound for treating obesity developed by Ascletis Pharma Inc. ASC-47 demonstrated a half-life of 26 and 40 days in healthy subjects and in patients with obesity, respectively.
Therapies based on glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) are the most effective for treating obesity to date, but their efficacy and tolerability are limited by gastrointestinal side effects and compensatory reduction of energy expenditure.