This 2021 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (STEP 1) evaluated the efficacy and safety of once-weekly subcutaneous semaglutide 2.4 mg in 1,961 adults with overweight or obesity without diabetes. Participants received semaglutide or placebo alongside lifestyle interventions over 68 weeks. The semaglutide group achieved a mean weight loss of 14.9% compared
This 2014 review article provides a comprehensive overview of emerging pharmacological treatments for obesity, focusing on novel agents and therapeutic targets under investigation at the time. The authors discuss several new drug classes, including GLP-1 receptor agonists (e.g., semaglutide), melanocortin-4 receptor agonists (e.g., setmelanotide), and dual amylin and calcitonin receptor
This 2021 review evaluates the long-term efficacy and safety of FDA-approved anti-obesity medications, including orlistat, lorcaserin, phentermine/topiramate, naltrexone/bupropion, and liraglutide. The authors analyzed clinical trial data to assess weight loss outcomes, adverse effects, and cardiovascular safety profiles. Findings indicate that all reviewed medications contribute to modest weight loss, with phentermine/topiramate
This preclinical study investigated the anti-obesity effects of combining the beta-cell hormone amylin with either phentermine or sibutramine in diet-induced obese (DIO) rats. The researchers administered amylin, phentermine, sibutramine, and their combinations to DIO rats and monitored changes in body weight, food intake, and adiposity. The combination therapies resulted in
This 2013 review discusses advancements in antiobesity pharmacotherapy, focusing on newly approved drugs and emerging therapeutic targets. It highlights the approval of lorcaserin, a selective 5-HT₂C receptor agonist that promotes satiety through hypothalamic pathways, and phentermine/topiramate ER, a combination therapy that suppresses appetite and enhances satiety via central nervous system
This systematic review and network meta-analysis evaluated the efficacy and safety of five FDA-approved long-term weight loss medications—phentermine-topiramate, liraglutide, naltrexone-bupropion, lorcaserin, and orlistat—in overweight and obese adults. Analyzing 28 randomized clinical trials encompassing 29,018 participants (median age 46 years; 74% women; median BMI 36.1), the study found that all medications
This review article examines the efficacy and safety of the sustained-release combination of bupropion and naltrexone (Contrave) for treating mild-to-moderate obesity. Bupropion, a norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitor, and naltrexone, an opioid receptor antagonist, work synergistically to reduce appetite and cravings by modulating the hypothalamic melanocortin system and mesolimbic reward pathways. Clinical
This expert review evaluates the potential of pharmacotherapy in addressing the obesity epidemic, highlighting both advancements and challenges. The authors discuss the mechanisms of various anti-obesity medications, including appetite suppression, increased energy expenditure, and nutrient absorption inhibition. They note that while pharmacotherapy can lead to modest weight loss, it is
This review article evaluates the cardiovascular effects of the combination therapy of phentermine and topiramate (PHEN/TPM), marketed as Qsymia, for obesity treatment. Phentermine, a sympathomimetic amine, suppresses appetite, while topiramate, an anticonvulsant, promotes weight loss through mechanisms not fully understood. Clinical trials have demonstrated that PHEN/TPM leads to significant weight
This retrospective cohort study assessed the cardiovascular safety of phentermine (PHEN) and topiramate (TPM), both individually and in combination, including the fixed-dose formulation (PHEN/TPM), in adults aged ≥18 years using U.S. insurance claims data from the MarketScan database. The primary outcome was the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE),
