Tesofensine
Status
Approved elsewhere. No FDA-approved labeling exists. Not approved in the United States or the European Union. It has been approved in Mexico, where different labeling applies.
What it is
An oral compound studied for appetite through brain monoamine reuptake.
What published research measured
A triple reuptake inhibitor acting on noradrenaline, dopamine and serotonin, originally developed for Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease, where it failed, and repurposed for obesity after weight loss was noticed as a side effect. A phase 2 trial published in the Lancet in 2008 reported weight reduction roughly double that of the obesity drugs available at the time. Development in Europe and the United States did not proceed to approval, and the reason is in the trial data: dose-related increases in heart rate and blood pressure, along with mood, sleep and central nervous system effects consistent with its monoamine mechanism. It was subsequently approved in Mexico. This is a stimulant-class agent and the cardiovascular signal is the central published concern.
Source
Astrup et al. 2008, The Lancet — phase 2 obesity trial
Sources
No linked primary source is on file for this entry yet.
Educational use only, never medical advice. No doses.