Novel Anti-Obesity Pharmacotherapies

Abstract

Obesity is a global disease that causes or exacerbates many severe weight-related complications such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and fatty liver. Though there are concerted efforts to combat this disease through several means, lifestyle therapy is still considered the mainstay treatment for obesity. Unfortunately, patients with obesity respond either modestly or unfavorable to lifestyle intervention alone. Although the classical definition of an AOM is a medication that can help reduce at least 5% of body weight over a period of 3 months, the more novel agents have far surpassed that. There are presently six major FDA-approved medications: orlistat, phentermine monotherapy, phentermine-topiramate, naltrexone-bupropion, liraglutide 3.0 mg, and semaglutide 2.4 mg. Great strides have been made in the development of more novel agents, particularly those that affect either the gut hormones controlling satiety or certain pancreatic hormones. In this chapter, we will discuss current and upcoming novel AOMs available to treat and manage obesity. We will explore the novel endocrine peptides that are presently market accessible and how treating to target is feasible in the new era of obesity medicine. Further clinical trials must be conducted to pave the way for safer and more effective agents with greater access and affordability.