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The Obesity Epidemic: Current and Future Pharmacological Treatments.

Hofbauer KG, Nicholson JR, Boss O

Applied Pharmacology, Biozentrum/Pharmazentrum, University of Basel, CH 4056 Basel, Switzerland karl.hofbauer@unibas.ch.

The unabated rise in the prevalence of obesity is a challenge for global health care systems. Efforts to reverse this trend by dietary or behavioral counseling have not been successful, which has stimulated efforts to find a role for pharmacotherapy. Currently only a small number of antiobesity drugs are approved for long-term use and only a few compounds are in clinical development. Despite recent progress in the understanding of the regulation of energy balance, drug discovery has been less productive than expected. In the present review, the clinically available antiobesity agents are discussed. Examples of drug candidates that are currently in development are given and the possible future range of antiobesity agents is illustrated by the targets being addressed in drug discovery. Finally, the efficacy of antiobesity agents and their value in the treatment of obesity is assessed in comparison with other therapeutic approaches, such as surgery and changes in lifestyle. Expected online publication date for the Annual Review of Pharmacology and Toxicology Volume 47 is January 6, 2007. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/catalog/pub_dates.asp for revised estimates.

Published 27 September 2006 in Annu Rev Pharmacol Toxicol.
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