Research
Hormonal
Setmelanotide, a melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) agonist, reduces hunger and BMI in patients with hypothalamic obesity caused by acquired hypothalamic injury, marking a potential breakthrough for this condition.
Setmelanotide is an MC4R agonist that reduces hunger and BMI in patients with hypothalamic obesity. It is FDA-approved for genetic obesity and is showing effectiveness for acquired hypothalamic injury. A large Phase 3 trial is currently underway.
ModerateSupportsMEDIUM confidence
Most recently setmelanotide has also been shown to be effective in reducing hunger and BMI in patients with HO due to hypothalamic injury (111, 112), which could mark a breakthrough for the treatment of aquired HO.
Why this rating
Based on citations of studies (111, 112) and a Phase 3 trial underway; specific data not fully detailed in this review text.
Source
Treatment of hypothalamic obesity in people with hypothalamic injury: new drugs are on the horizon
Christian L. Roth et al. · Frontiers in Endocrinology · 2023
DOI 10.3389/fendo.2023.1256514
narrative_reviewCited 20×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
More from this paper
- GLP-1 receptor agonists (specifically exenatide) reduce body fat and waist circumference in patients with hypothalamic obesity, with greater adiposity reduction observed in those with more extensive hypothalamic damage.Moderate
- Tesofensine (combined with metoprolol) significantly reduces body weight, waist circumference, and glucose levels in adults with hypothalamic obesity compared to placebo.Moderate
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