Adipotide: The Pill That Destroys Fat Cells

Adipotide, a pill that will continue to help you lose weight, stop the blood supply to vital tissues and prevents the oxygen and nourishment to the cells. For the corresponding cells, this means death. An American research team at the University of Texas in Houston has now tested this approach to fat cells, with the result that the fat cells died.

The so-called Adipotide have been tested for years in mice. The use of the pill led to a weight loss of around 30 percent. Now it was possible to repeat the same effect also in rhesus monkeys, which tend to fat deposits. The animals lost approximately 11 percent of weight. If we add to this success on an overweight adults, which could mean 10-15 kg body weight. Because the metabolism of rhesus monkeys and humans are very similar, the study's leader, Renata Pasqualini, is optimistic that the drug could be Adipotide pill soon as an alternative for people with weight loss. Already in 2012 a clinical trial in patients with prostate cancer is planned, which have built up too much because of their hormonal depot fat.

Together with co-study leader Wadih Arap Pasqualini worked for many years on the development of cancer drugs, searching a way to stem the obesity of their patients or reversed. While most drugs on the appetite or the absorption of fat in the intestine targeting, the two researchers want to Adipotide directly attach to the fat cells. The side effects are in contrast to previous methods may be significantly lower.

Pasqualini and Arap warn of the dangerous side effects of appetite suppressants. Recently, the European Medicines Agency began an investigation of fat absorption blocker orlistat, which should lead to liver damage due to its ingestion. As early as 2010, the appetite suppressant sibutramine was withdrawn from the market because of the increased risk of heart attack and stroke.

In animal studies with Adipotide only very minor side effects were observed, since the drug is trimmed only on certain blood vessels. The experimental monkeys remained after the researchers alert and attentive. In addition, the therapy does not beat the monkey on the appetite. Only the kidney function values ​​changed easily. After the end of the values ​​are, however, quickly returned to normal, they say.

The former body weight returned to the monkey, however, not immediately return to the starting value. In most animals, the weight loss had continued even several weeks.