A new cure for obesity: satiety after the first spoonful
The new drug for weight loss surpasses all modern analogues in effectiveness. Acting on the brain centers responsible for appetite, it causes a feeling of satiety soon after the start of a meal, reports the Daily Mail.
The drug tezofensin, originally developed by the Danish pharmaceutical company NeuroSearch as a treatment for Parkinsonism and Alzheimer's disease, acts by inhibiting the reverse neuronal capture of serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain structures that regulate feelings of hunger and satiety.
A study conducted under the guidance of Professor at the University of Copenhagen, President of the International Association for the Study of Obesity Arne Astrup, showed that after six months of taking the drug at a dose of 0.5 mg once a day, body weight loss averaged 9.18%. This is about twice as much as when using currently available drugs. An increase in the dose led to an increase in side effects, and a decrease – to a decrease in effectiveness.
According to Astrup, the combination of tezofenzine with diet and exercise can increase weight loss by up to 20% in six months.
The side effects of tezofenzine were generally moderate and transient and included nausea, diarrhea, constipation, insomnia, mood swings and, most worryingly, increased heart rate.
The next stage of clinical trials will show whether the benefits of taking the drug outweigh the potential risk associated with its use. If the research is completed successfully, tezofenzin may go on sale in three years.