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Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes 2006; 114(9): 475-484
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-924241
Review

© J. A. Barth Verlag in Georg Thieme Verlag KG · Stuttgart · New York

Pharmacotherapy of Obesity

K. G. Hofbauer 1 , J. R. Nicholson 1
  • 1Applied Pharmacology, Biozentrum/Pharmazentrum, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
Further Information

Publication History

Received: February 10, 2006 First decision: March 7, 2006

Accepted: March 16, 2006

Publication Date:
17 November 2006 (online)

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Abstract

Obesity has become a significant health problem in industrialised and developing countries, and despite all nutritional and behavioural approaches, its prevalence is still increasing. In recent years, the identification and characterisation of central and peripheral mechanisms involved in the regulation of energy balance has made remarkable progress and provided numerous targets for novel antiobesity agents. However, only few antiobesity drugs are on the market and not many compounds have entered clinical development. In the present review, the clinically available agents are discussed and their pharmacological profiles are compared. Some of the drugs that are currently in clinical development are mentioned as examples of the possible future range of antiobesity agents. Selected topics in drug discovery are presented to illustrate novel targets and concepts for the pharmacotherapy of obesity.

Key words

Appetite - energy balance - metabolism - adipose tissue - drugs

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Correspondence

Prof. Dr. med. Karl G. Hofbauer

Applied Pharmacology·Biozentrum/Pharmazentrum·University of Basel

Klingelbergstrasse 50-70

CH-4056 Basel

Switzerland

Phone: +4161 267 1645

Fax: +4161 267 22 08

Email: karl.hofbauer@unibas.ch

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