Palatin : Phase 1 Trial for Obesity Compound in collaboration with AstraZeneca

August 4, 2011 – Palatin Technologies, Inc. (NYSE Amex: PTN) confirmed the commencement of a Phase 1 clinical trial of AZD2820, a subcutaneously-administered peptide melanocortin receptor partial agonist, under development as a single-agent therapy for the treatment of obesity. AZD2820 is a clinical candidate selected by AstraZeneca from its collaborative research program with Palatin Technologies. 

Obesity is a global problem, with the World Health Organization estimating that over 1.5 billion adults are overweight and over 500 million are obese. Worldwide obesity has more than doubled since 1980. A number of different metabolic and hormonal pathways are being evaluated by companies around the world in efforts to develop better treatments for obesity. Scientific research has established that melanocortin receptors have a role in eating behavior and energy homeostasis, and that some melanocortin receptor agonists decrease food intake and induce weight loss in animal studies.

The single center study is expected to enroll 90 subjects in a randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled, Phase 1 trial in healthy male volunteers... Palatin Technologies' Press Release -

VIVUS : Qnexa® Phase 3 Data Published In Obesity Show 14.4% Average Weight Loss In Severely Obese Patients Completing One Year Of Treatment

Nov. 3, 2011 - Weight Loss Accompanied by Improvements in Cardio-Metabolic Risk Factors -

VIVUS, Inc. (NASDAQ: VVUS) announced that results from the 56-week EQUIP study were published in Obesity, the peer-reviewed journal of The Obesity Society. The EQUIP study evaluated the efficacy and safety of the investigational drug Qnexa in 1,267 severely obese (BMI >/= 35 kg/m2) patients across 91 sites in the US. In addition to average weight loss of 14.4% of initial body weight among those who completed the study at the top dose of Qnexa, severely obese patients had improvements in blood pressure, glucose, triglycerides and cholesterol. The results with Qnexa suggest the potential to effectively treat severely obese patients without surgery.

"Obesity is a serious medical condition that threatens the public health and reduces the quality and length of lives. Currently available treatments are limited and options are needed," said lead investigator Dr. David Allison, director of the Nutrition Obesity Research Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham. "In this population of severely obese patients, those taking Qnexa experienced significant weight loss and reduction in risk factors for many chronic diseases. The results refute a common notion that nonsurgical treatments are not effective for extremely obese persons. The findings are especially relevant to the 14% of the US adult population classified as extremely obese."

Patients in the study had a baseline body mass index of >/= 35 kg/m2, and an average initial weight of 256 pounds. Treatment was well tolerated, with no evidence of serious adverse events induced by treatment... VIVUS' Press Release -

Digna Biotech and Biotecnol : Cardiotrophin 1 shows promising results for treatment of obesity and metabolic syndrome

14 September 2011 - Scientists from the Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA) of the University of Navarra (Spain) have discovered that cardiotrophin 1, a protein synthesized by muscle cells and adipose tissue, has a marked effect on fat and glucose metabolism. "These new findings add to those we already know on this compound such the anti-ischemic and cytoprotective effects showed in acute liver damage and solid organ transplants gives CT-1 great possibilities to be developed in various serious conditions”, commented Pablo Ortiz, CEO of Digna Biotech.

The study was published in the August issue of Metabolism Cell, most prestigious journal in Metabolism and further details were described in the 25th August of SciBX, the Biocentury/Nature publication. The researchers found that the administration of cardiotrophin 1 accelerates the elimination of fat from the adipose tissue and increases the rate at which fat is burnt in muscles. Treatment of obese and diabetic mice with cardiotrophin 1 increases energy expenditure, reduces food intake and corrects obesity and diabetes. Investigators noticed that, in addition to its effects on fat metabolism, cardiotrophin 1 promotes the entrance of glucose into the cells and increases the sensitivity to insulin. The investigation has been leaded by M. Bustos, J. Prieto and MJ Moreno-Aliaga at CIMA.

Cardiotrophin 1 is co-developed for its use in organ transplantation and tissue regeneration by Digna Biotech and Biotecnol (The Consortium). Both of the companies signed an Exclusive License and Option Agreement with Genentech, Inc (a fully owned subsidiary of the Roche group) on September 2009. Pablo Ortiz remarked: "Cardiotrophin 1 showed a very interesting effect on fat metabolism which deserves to be explored in a clinical setting. We are ready to recruit healthy volunteers in the Phase I trial before the end of the year. Phase II in liver resection is scheduled for the second quarter of 2012. We are also confident that these new applications and the progress on the clinical development will allow us to forge partnerships with other biopharmaceutical companies to reach the patients as soon as possible”... Biotecnol 's Press Release - Digna Biotech's Press Release -

Bionovo, Inc. : to Present Tissue Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators for Obesity at the 22nd Annual Meeting of the North American Menopause Society

Sept. 20, 2011 -- Bionovo, Inc. (NASDAQ: BNVI), a pharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of safe and effective treatments for women's health and cancer, announced that Dr. Mary Tagliaferri, President and Chief Medical Officer of Bionovo, will present the results of a study on the effects of two botanically-derived, tissue selective estrogen receptor modulators for the treatment of obesity at the 22nd Annual Meeting of the North American Menopause Society (NAMS) in Washington DC on Friday, September 23, 2011.

 On average, women transitioning through menopause experience a 10-15 pound weight gain with a redistribution of fat to the abdomen. Menopausal changes of body weight and increased central distribution of body fat have been identified as independent predictors of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Dr. Tagliaferri will present studies that identify a new class of botanically-derived, tissue selective estrogen receptor modulators in adipose tissue which cause weight loss in mice without the unwanted proliferative effects in breast and uterine tissue that are associated with cancer... Bionovo's Press Release -

EnteroMedics : Presentation of Maestro(R) RC System Clinical Data at the XVI World Congress of the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders

09/02/11 -- EnteroMedics Inc. (NASDAQ: ETRM), the developer of medical devices using neuroblocking technology to treat obesity, metabolic diseases, and other gastrointestinal disorders, announced that data from the Company's VBLOC-DM2 ENABLE (DM2) trial evaluating the Company's second generation Maestro RC System in the treatment of obesity, diabetes and hypertension, was presented at the XVI World Congress of the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders (IFSO), held August 31 to September 3 in Hamburg, Germany. The oral presentation, titled "Treatment of Obesity-Related Co-Morbidities with VBLOC Therapy," was delivered by Miguel Herrera Hernández, M.D., Instituto Nacional de la Nutrición, Mexico, an investigator in the DM2 trial.

DM2 trial results presented at IFSO reflect statistically significant, sustained improvement in glycemic control and blood pressure, as well as clinically meaningful weight loss in obese, diabetic patients using the Maestro RC System. The 18-month data presented at IFSO included: excess weight loss (EWL) of approximately 24.6% (n=22), a mean reduction in HbA1c of 1.2 percentage points from a baseline of 8.1% (n=13), a change in fasting plasma glucose of -38.4 mg/dl from a baseline of 151.4 mg/dl (n=12) and, in hypertensive patients (n=10), a reduction in mean arterial pressure of 13.0 mmHg from a baseline of 99.5 mmHg and a reduction in diastolic blood pressure of 15.9 mmHg from a baseline of 87.2 mmHg (n=10). Through 18 months, no change in mean arterial pressure was observed in patients that did not present with hypertension (n=10)... EnteroMedics' Press Release -