Meridia (sibutramine) / AbbVie - LARVOL DELTA

Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists and Age-Related Macular Degeneration. (PubMed, JAMA Ophthalmol) - "Patients were prescribed either the GLP-1RAs liraglutide or semaglutide or OWLDs including lorcaserin, sibutramine, setmelanotide, fenfluramine, mazindol, orlistat, phentermine, and diethylpropion. In this cohort study, GLP-1RA use was associated with reduced risk of developing nonexudative AMD but was not associated with progression to exudative AMD among individuals with nonexudative AMD. These findings may inform future randomized trials evaluating the ocular effects of GLP-1RAs in nondiabetic populations."

Journal • Age-related Macular Degeneration • Dry Age-related Macular Degeneration • Genetic Disorders • Macular Degeneration • Metabolic Disorders • Obesity • Ophthalmology • Retinal Disorders

Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonist Use and Risk of Cataract Development. (PubMed, Am J Ophthalmol) - "GLP-1RA use was associated with a significantly reduced risk of age-related cataract compared to OWLD use and no pharmacologic treatment. These findings support the need for randomized prospective trials and mechanistic studies to better understand this observed association."

Journal • Cataract • Genetic Disorders • Metabolic Disorders • Obesity • Ophthalmology

Obesity: Clinical Impact, Pathophysiology, Complications, and Modern Innovations in Therapeutic Strategies. (PubMed, Medicines (Basel)) - "Despite its significant health and socioeconomic impact, earlier obesity medications, such as fenfluramine, sibutramine, and orlistat, fell short of expectations due to limited effectiveness, serious side effects including valvular heart disease and gastrointestinal issues, and high rates of treatment discontinuation...Emerging therapies, including oral GLP-1 agonists and triple-receptor agonists (e.g., retatrutide), promise enhanced tolerability and muscle preservation, potentially bridging the efficacy gap with bariatric surgery...Future research must prioritize long-term cardiovascular outcome trials and mitigate emerging risks, such as sarcopenia and joint degeneration. A multidisciplinary approach combining pharmacotherapy, behavioral interventions, and systemic policy changes is critical to curbing the obesity epidemic and its downstream consequences."

Journal • Review • Cardiovascular • Diabetes • Gastrointestinal Disorder • Genetic Disorders • Heart Failure • Hepatology • Metabolic Disorders • Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease • Obesity • Oncology • Sarcopenia • Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Combination of sibutramine and topiramate for the treatment of obesity: the SIBAMATE retrospective cohort study : Sibutramine and topiramate for the treatment of obesity. (PubMed, Diabetol Metab Syndr) - "In a real-world setting, sibutramine and topiramate combination therapy was associated with clinically meaningful weight loss alongside a good tolerability profile."

Journal • Retrospective data • Alzheimer's Disease • Cardiovascular • CNS Disorders • Diabetes • Dyslipidemia • Genetic Disorders • Hypertension • Metabolic Disorders • Obesity • Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Safety pharmacology of sibutramine analogues evaluated by in silico and in vitro biological target screening. (PubMed, Chem Biol Interact) - "Additionally, for selected analogues, target binding was predicted for metabolites; a majority of metabolites (70%) exhibited similar binding potency (Ki within 10-fold) to their respective parent chemicals, suggesting they may also contribute to potential health effects. Overall, biological target binding profiles illustrate important structure-activity relationships among sibutramine analogues that can help identify potential adverse health effects."

Journal • Preclinical

Quantitative analysis of the efficacy characteristics and influencing factors of weight loss drugs in children and adolescents. (PubMed, Diabetes Obes Metab) - "This study provides key quantitative evidence to inform the use of weight-loss medications in treating obesity in the paediatric demograph."

Journal • Genetic Disorders • Obesity • Pediatrics

Integrating forensic pathology and toxicology for in-depth analysis of performance-enhancing substance misuse: Insights into injury, death, and broader implications. (PubMed, Leg Med (Tokyo)) - "At the decedent's residence, investigators found four boxes of methylprednisolone tablets, one galenic preparation of sibutramine, and two unlabelled galenic compounds. Evidence suggested that sibutramine was consumed both from labelled products and inadvertently from unlabelled compounds, highlighting safety concerns regarding the unregulated and poorly labelled substances. This case underscores the significant health risks associated with PED use, particularly in non-professional contexts where anti-doping measures are absent."

Journal • Cardiovascular • CNS Disorders • Hematological Disorders • Hypertension

The role of obesity in the development and progression of osteoarthritis: the influence of medical and surgical therapies for obesity on the course of inflammatory arthritis: A review (PubMed, Ter Arkh) - "So understanding immune regulation and resolution of inflammation in obesity is critical to developing treatments approaches to OA for these patients. The article also analyzes current researches on the effect of drug therapy (liraglutide, orlistat, sibutramine) and bariatric surgery of obesity on the course of inflammatory joint diseases."

Journal • Review • Genetic Disorders • Immunology • Inflammation • Obesity • Osteoarthritis • Pain • Rheumatology • IL6 • LEP • RETN

The Weight of Hormones: Exploring the Link Between Anti-Obesity Treatments and Menstrual Disorders (ECO 2025) - "A review analyzed GLP-1 analogs and concluded that these agents, particularly liraglutide, are more effective than metformin in addressing the physical and metabolic features of PCOS. Anti-obesity treatments significantly improve menstrual disorders, particularly in women with obesity and PCOS. Interventions such as lifestyle modifications, GLP-1 analogs, and bariatric surgery demonstrate positive effects on menstrual regularity, ovulation, and hormonal balance, offering promising therapeutic options."

Genetic Disorders • Gynecology • Obesity • Polycystic Ovary Syndrome • Women's Health

Understanding the Rhythm Within: How Anti-Obesity Treatments Alter Heart Rate Variability (ECO 2025) - "Exenatide (acute, 1 week) increased the LF/HF ratio (median: 0.6, [-0.3 to -3.2]; p 0.05). Most studies evaluate HRV over short periods, limiting the understanding of long-term effects, as treatments may yield fluctuating impacts. Further research is needed, and wearable devices could offer a promising approach for continuous HRV monitoring, providing deeper insights into the relationship between anti-obesity treatments and autonomic function."

Genetic Disorders • Obesity

From 'traditional' remedies to 'modern' supplements: a systematic review and meta-analysis of pharmaceutical adulteration in weight-loss natural products. (PubMed, Front Pharmacol) - "To protect public health and market integrity, a global framework is needed, emphasizing harmonized regulations, international collaboration, and public awareness. Future research should assess long-term health effects to ensure sustainable and safe healthcare solutions worldwide."

Journal • Retrospective data • Review • Genetic Disorders • Obesity

Pharmacological treatment of obesity in adults and its impact on comorbidities (ESPE-ESE 2025) - "This presentation will focus on the 2024 Update Position Statement of Specialists from the Brazilian Association for the Study of Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome (Abeso) and the Brazilian Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism (SBEM), with the aim of reviewing all the approved medications for the management of obesity in Brazil (sibutramine, orlistat, liraglutide, semaglutide and bupropion/ naltrexone fixed dose), with the addition of tirzepatide. The presentation will focus on efficacy, safety profile and the impact of drugs on different comorbidities."

Clinical • Endocrine Disorders • Genetic Disorders • Obesity

HG043, a potent thienopyrimidine GPR119 agonist, demonstrates enhanced anti-diabetic and anti-obesity effects in preclinical models. (PubMed, Biomed Pharmacother) - "We investigated the anti-diabetic and anti-obesity effects of HG043, a novel and potent thienopyrimidine-based GPR119 agonist, by comparing its pharmacological activities to those of MBX-2982 (a known GPR119 agonist) and sibutramine (an appetite suppressant) in both in vitro and in vivo models. Furthermore, HG043 demonstrated synergistic glucose-lowering effects when combined with metformin or sitagliptin. These findings suggest that HG043 may serve as a promising therapeutic option for the treatment of type 2 diabetes with obesity patients."

Journal • Preclinical • Diabetes • Genetic Disorders • Metabolic Disorders • Obesity • Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

A simple method for the determination of stimulant substances in postmortem blood: development, validation, and application in nearly 1000 forensic cases. (PubMed, Forensic Toxicol) - "A rapid and straightforward LC-MS/MS method for the quantitative analysis of drugs in postmortem blood was validated and successfully applied to nearly 1000 postmortem blood samples."

Journal

Cross-Analytical Strategies to Tackle "Medicines in Disguise" Presented as Food Supplements, a New Threat for Human Health. (PubMed, Molecules) - "The samples contained active pharmaceutical ingredients, including diclofenac, piroxicam, dexamethasone 21-acetate, and sibutramine. We provided evidence of "medicines in disguise" presented as food supplements, which raises concerns about their quality and safety."

Journal

TOLERASIT: Observational, Real-life, Retrospective, Data Collection, Use Sibutramine/topiramate in Overweight Comorbidities/obesity (clinicaltrials.gov) - P=N/A | N=0 | Withdrawn | Sponsor: Eurofarma Laboratorios S.A. | N=1500 ➔ 0 | Not yet recruiting ➔ Withdrawn

Enrollment change • Trial withdrawal • Genetic Disorders • Obesity

Pharmacological interventions for addressing pediatric and adolescent obesity: A systematic review and network meta-analysis. (PubMed, PLoS One) - "The study found that semaglutide outperformed other AOMs in reducing BMI and additional weight-related outcomes in children and adolescents with obesity, while PHEN/TPM showed comparable efficacy."

Clinical • Journal • Retrospective data • Review • Genetic Disorders • Obesity • Pediatrics

Postoperative Weight Loss After Antiobesity Medications and Revision Risk After Joint Replacement. (PubMed, JAMA Netw Open) - "Emulated analyses of a hypothetical target trial were assessed for the association of small-to-moderate (2%-10%) or large (≥10%) weight loss after initiating antiobesity medications (orlistat, sibutramine, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, and rimonabant) within 1 year with the risk of 5-year and 10-year revision after initiation of antiobesity medications. In this cohort study using a target trial emulation, a higher proportion of weight loss after initiating antiobesity medications within 1 year was associated with a lower risk of 5-year and 10-year revision among patients with obesity undergoing joint replacement. These results suggest that antiobesity medication use, with relatively safe and sustainable weight loss, may be an effective strategy for improving implant survivorship of hip and knee replacements in the obese population."

Journal • Retrospective data • Genetic Disorders • Musculoskeletal Diseases • Obesity • Orthopedics • Rheumatology

UNLIMITED: A Phase 3, Double-blind/double-dummy, Safety/efficacy/superiority of Sibutramine/topiramate XR in Adults with Overweight (clinicaltrials.gov) - P3 | N=1855 | Not yet recruiting | Sponsor: Eurofarma Laboratorios S.A. | Trial completion date: Jul 2027 ➔ Mar 2028 | Trial primary completion date: Mar 2027 ➔ Mar 2028

Head-to-Head • Trial completion date • Trial primary completion date • Genetic Disorders • Obesity

Emerging pharmacotherapies for obesity: A systematic review. (PubMed, Pharmacol Rev) - "Oral semaglutide 50 mg is the only medication that has completed a phase 3 trial. There are 14 ongoing phase 3 trials on glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists (RAs) (ecnoglutide, orforglipron, and TG103), GLP-1 RA/amylin agonist (CagriSema), GLP-1/glucagon RAs (mazdutide and survodutide), GLP-1/glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide and glucagon RA (retatrutide), dapagliflozin, and the combination sibutramine/topiramate...This systematic review identifies the state and mechanism of action of emerging pharmacotherapies undergoing or having completed phase 2 and phase 3 clinical trials. The information provided herein furthers the understanding of obesity management, implying direct clinical implications and stimulating research initiatives."

Journal • Review • Genetic Disorders • Obesity

Presence of sibutramine and sildenafil in weight loss dietary supplements: a case series with analytical and clinical investigation. (PubMed, Clin Toxicol (Phila)) - "As such, the unregulated use of these products pose a serious risk to public health, particularly in individuals with underlying cardiovascular disease. We detected sibutramine and sildenafil in all 12 weight loss supplements tested, which highlights the need for stricter regulation and monitoring."

Journal • Anorexia • Cardiovascular • CNS Disorders • Epilepsy • Insomnia • Pain • Sleep Disorder

Pharmacologic Treatment of Obesity in adults and its impact on comorbidities: 2024 Update and Position Statement of Specialists from the Brazilian Association for the Study of Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome (Abeso) and the Brazilian Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism (SBEM). (PubMed, Arch Endocrinol Metab) - "This document is an 2024 Update Position Statement of Specialists from the Brazilian Association for the Study of Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome (Abeso) and the Brazilian Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism (SBEM), with the aim of reviewing all the approved medications for the management of obesity in Brazil (sibutramine, orlistat, liraglutide, semaglutide and bupropion/naltrexone fixed dose), with the addition of tirzepatide, that is approved in other countries and likely approved soon in Brazil. The review is focused on efficacy, safety profile and the impact of drugs (based on existing studies) on different comorbidities."

Journal • Review • Endocrine Disorders • Genetic Disorders • Metabolic Disorders • Obesity

Trends in the Prescription of Weight Loss Medications in Patients With Obesity: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Analysis, 1999-2018 (ACG 2024) - "Prescription medication data included FDA-approved weight-loss drugs such as phentermine, sibutramine, diethylpropion, phentermine/topiramate, orlistat, bupropion/naltrexone, GLP-1 agonist. Weight-loss inducing anti-diabetic drugs included pramlintide, SGLT-2 inhibitors, metformin...The most prescribed FDA-approved medication was phentermine followed by liraglutide and orlistat... The proportion of subjects who met the criteria for receiving weight-loss drugs increased from 42.4% in 1999-2000 to 51.9% in 2017-2018. However, the use of FDA-approved drugs alone remained low ranging from 0.29% in 1999-2000 to 1.12% in 2017-2018. When anti-diabetes drugs with weight-loss effects were included, the proportion of use ranged from 5.16% in 1999-2000 to 14.24% in 2017-2018."

Clinical • Cardiovascular • Diabetes • Dyslipidemia • Genetic Disorders • Hypertension • Obesity

In vitro Evaluation of Anti-obesity Potential of Phyllanthus Fraternus Leaves. (PubMed, Arch Razi Inst) - "Treatments available for obesity include FDA-approved drugs such as Lorcaserin, Orlistat, Bupropion, combinations of Phentermine and Topiramate, and Sibutramine; however, these have adverse effects on health. The results obtained from the current study revealed that the plant exhibits potent anti-obesity properties. Thus, this plant extract is a potential source as an alternative treatment to treat obesity."

Journal • Preclinical • Genetic Disorders • Obesity

Effect of Anti-Obesity Treatments on Heart Rate Variability: Review of a 20 Years Evolution (OBESITY WEEK 2024) - "Exenatide (acute, 1 week) increased the LF/HF ratio (median: 0.6, [-0.3 to -3.2]; p 0.05).Twelve observational studies 6 to 12 months after bariatric surgery consistently reported a positive impact on HRV (p<0.05).Two studies showed further improvement in HRV for patients who exercised(aerobic exercise) after surgery.Findings were mixed in sibutramine. Most studies only assess HRV for short periods, and longer evaluations are needed since some treatments may have fluctuating effects. Overall, more research is necessary, and wearable devices could be valuable tools for continuous HRV monitoring."

Review • Genetic Disorders • Obesity