Promising strategies for obesity pharmacotherapy: melanocortin-4 (MC-4) receptor agonists and melanin concentrating hormone (MCH) receptor-1 antagonists.
Despite remarkable progress in the elucidation of energy balance and regulation, the development of new anti-obesity drugs is still at the stage of infancy. Herein we briefly reviewed several investigational anti-obesity agents currently under development, consisting of agents controlling appetite, modulating nutrient absorption and lipid metabolism, sensing and regulating nutrient status, stimulating energy expenditure, and reducing adiposity. In particular, two promising targets such as melanocortin-4 (MC-4) receptor and melanin concentrating hormone (MCH)-1 receptor will be highlighted in this review covering major medicinal chemistry efforts and biological aspects of the compounds synthesized. Considering the enthusiastic efforts to develop efficacious and safe anti-obesity drugs, a range of novel medications treating obesity more effectively than is currently managed by pharmacotherapy will be available in near future.