Meridia (sibutramine) / AbbVie - LARVOL DELTA

AQbD-based development and validation of an HPLC-PDA method for simultaneous determination of sibutramine, desmethylsibutramine, and didesmethylsibutramine in herbal weight-loss supplements. (PubMed, RSC Adv) - "Application of the validated method to commercial herbal weight-loss supplements successfully identified products adulterated with sibutramine and desmethylsibutramine, and all positive findings were independently confirmed by high-resolution mass spectrometry. The proposed analytical workflow provides a robust, chemometrically optimized, and experimentally validated strategy for the routine regulatory screening and quality control of illegal pharmaceutical adulterants in herbal weight-loss supplements."

Journal

Dietary Interventions and Vitamin D3 Replacement in Pituitary Tumors: a Systematic Review. (PubMed, Eur J Endocrinol) - "Evidence on dietary strategies for PitNET management is limited. Low-carbohydrate and energy-restricted diets may improve adverse metabolic comorbidities, while vitamin D3 replacement shows potential benefits for insulin sensitivity in Cushing's disease and fracture risk in acromegaly. Larger randomized trials are needed to confirm effects on disease control, comorbidities, and QoL."

Journal • Acromegaly • Cushing’s Disease • Endocrine Disorders • Musculoskeletal Diseases • Neuroendocrine Tumor • Oncology • Orthopedics • Pituitary Gland Carcinoma • Solid Tumor • IGF1

SIBUTAMATE: Retrospective Evaluation of Sibutramine-Topiramate Therapy for Obesity in Real-World Outpatient Practice (clinicaltrials.gov) - P=N/A | N=278 | Completed | Sponsor: Falquetomed | Not yet recruiting ➔ Completed | N=500 ➔ 278

Enrollment change • Real-world evidence • Trial completion • Genetic Disorders • Obesity

The effect of sibutramine on the levels of leptin, ghrelin, and cytokines (IL-1β, IL-10, and IL-17A) in rats with induced obesity (PubMed, Vopr Pitan) - "The positive effect of Sib on the levels of adipokines and cytokines is manifested in combination with regular PA, even in induced obesity."

Journal • Preclinical • Genetic Disorders • Obesity • IL10 • IL17A • IL1B • LEP

Long-term effects of weight-reducing drugs in people with hypertension. (PubMed, Cochrane Database Syst Rev) - "There have been multiple developments in the domain of medications for long-term weight reduction in recent years. Several pharmaceutical products have been removed from the market due to safety concerns, whilst new drugs have been introduced. Our critical outcomes of death and cardiovascular complications were not the focus of the trials included in this review but were sometimes presented as part of an 'adverse events' outcome, with the resultant data providing only very low certainty evidence. Overall, the evidence for people with hypertension remains insufficient to draw conclusions regarding the benefits of pharmacological weight loss in terms of reducing the risk of mortality or cardiovascular morbidity. Further trials are needed. Moreover, separate results for participants with hypertension should be made available from any completed trials involving both normotensive and hypertensive people."

Clinical • Journal • Review • Cardiovascular • Hypertension • Obesity

Trends in Microchemical Detection Methods for Illegal Adulterants and Heavy Metals in Sports Nutrition Supplements. (PubMed, Environ Res) - "Anabolic agents, stimulants, sibutramine, sildenafil analogues, SARMs, prohormones, diuretics, beta2-agonists, glucocorticoids, and 2,4-dinitrophenol are considered together with Pb, Cd, As, Hg, Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, and other elements. Across the literature, the main trend is not replacement of laboratory confirmation by portable tools, but redistribution of analytical work: field screening, microextraction, and chemometric triage reduce sample and solvent burdens, while LC-MS/MS, HRMS, and ICP-based methods remain decisive for quantification, legal defensibility, and retrospective identification. Regulatory value increases when adulterant and metal data are interpreted jointly because the same product may carry anti-doping risk, acute pharmacological risk, and chronic elemental exposure."

Journal

Toward Precision Obesity Pharmacotherapy: Using the Eating Behavior Phenotype Scale (EFCA) in Real-World Clinical Practice. (PubMed, Nutrients) - "In this responder-enriched real-world cohort, AOMs showed distinct and reproducible EFCA behavioral signatures, supporting a clinically actionable phenotype-informed framework to prioritize, sequence, and monitor obesity pharmacotherapy beyond nonspecific weight reduction, while highlighting disorganization as a potential target for adjunctive behavioral strategies."

Journal • Observational data • Real-world evidence • Retrospective data • Genetic Disorders • Obesity

Pharmacological interventions for the treatment of obesity in children and adolescents. (PubMed, Cochrane Database Syst Rev) - "This review includes clinical trials assessing the benefits and harms of pharmacological treatments - including GLP-1 agonists, metformin, orlistat, phentermine, sibutramine, and topiramate - for weight management in adolescents with obesity. Evidence suggests that pharmacological treatments may result in small reductions in BMI and weight, which could be clinically important, although effects vary by medication. Evidence on desirable and undesirable effects in children is scant. Uncertainties remain about the optimal duration of treatment, consequences of treatment discontinuation, and long-term benefits and harms, particularly considering the physiology of children and impact on growth. Studies with longer follow-up are needed to evaluate outcomes beyond BMI and weight change, including the potential effects of treatment discontinuation."

Clinical • Journal • Review • Genetic Disorders • Obesity • Pediatrics • NORAD

SIBUTAMATE: Retrospective Evaluation of Sibutramine-Topiramate Therapy for Obesity in Real-World Outpatient Practice (clinicaltrials.gov) - P=N/A | N=500 | Not yet recruiting | Sponsor: Falquetomed

New trial • Real-world evidence • Genetic Disorders • Obesity

Digital SERS-lateral flow immunoassay platform for ultrasensitive and dosage-sensitive analysis of sibutramine. (PubMed, Spectrochim Acta A Mol Biomol Spectrosc) - "Compared with conventional Raman average intensity analysis, the digital SERS-LFIA achieved limits of detection of 0.28 ng/mL, demonstrating excellent quantitative detection capability. In summary, by incorporating digital SERS technology, this study extends the application of LFIA to enable ultrasensitive and efficient quantitative detection analytes in complex food samples."

Journal • Review • Genetic Disorders • Obesity

Efficacy of pharmacological and nutritional interventions for glucose dysfunction in schizophrenia-A systematic review and network meta-analysis. (PubMed, J Psychopharmacol) - "This study provides the first integrated comparison of pharmacological and nutritional interventions for glucose dysfunction in schizophrenia. Metformin showed the most consistent benefits, whereas aripiprazole, topiramate, liraglutide, and select supplements demonstrated additional advantages. These findings highlight the importance of targeting glucose dysregulation as a core therapeutic priority and support the cautious but promising role of nutritional agents alongside established pharmacological strategies."

Journal • Retrospective data • CNS Disorders • Psychiatry • Schizophrenia

Analysis of weight-loss compounds in health supplements by ultrasonic extraction, dispersive sorbent cleanup, and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry quantification. (PubMed, J Chromatogr A) - "Sibutramine, phenolphthalein, and benzylsibutramine were detected in 7/82, 5/82, and 2/82 samples with concentration ranges of 0.44-16.4, 0.54-2.14, and 0.14-1.43 mg/g, respectively. These results indicated the method applicability to the quality control of health supplements in developed and emerging countries."

Journal • Genetic Disorders • Obesity

Sibutramine high-doses effects in cafeteria diet-induced obese rats. (PubMed, Sci Rep) - "However, dietary factors remained the dominant driver of microbial composition. These findings underscore the impact of sibutramine's dosing on gut microbiota and reinforce its role in obesity-related health improvements."

Journal • Preclinical • Genetic Disorders • Obesity

Systematic review of influence of ethnicity on efficacy and safety of pharmacotherapy for childhood and adolescent obesity. (PubMed, Clin Exp Pediatr) - "Of the 3,979 identified records, 4 randomized trials met the inclusion criteria and investigated liraglutide, metformin, phentermine/topiramate, and sibutramine. Larger prospectively designed trials with prespecified ethnic subgroup analyses are urgently needed to establish equitable personalized approaches to pharmacotherapy for childhood obesity. (registration number: CRD42025117631)."

Journal • Genetic Disorders • Obesity • Pediatrics

Sustainable fabric-phase sorptive extraction membrane characterization and comprehensive greenness assessment for detecting pharmaceutical adulterants in herbal slimming products. (PubMed, J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci) - "This study presents a sustainable analytical approach centered on the characterization and environmental evaluation of a sol-gel Carbowax 20M-coated fabric-phase sorptive extraction (FPSE) membrane designed for detecting pharmaceutical adulterants-specifically fluoxetine and sibutramine-in herbal slimming products. Beyond analytical validation, the environmental performance of the method was systematically assessed using six recognized greenness and applicability metrics: AGREE (score = 0.63), MoGAPI, AGSA, BAGI (> 60), CACI (62%), and AGREEprep, all confirming high sustainability and practical applicability. These findings highlight that the sol-gel Carbowax 20M coated FPSE membrane provides a low-cost, solvent-efficient, and environmentally responsible platform for the routine screening of undeclared pharmaceutical compounds in complex herbal matrices."

Journal

Weight loss at a cost: A case of sibutramine-induced psychotic disorder. (PubMed, Nutr Health) - "The Naranjo adverse drug reaction Probability Scale was used in this case to evaluate whether the psychotic events were associated with sibutramine use.Resultsa young female developed severe psychiatric symptoms requiring hospitalization after using sibutramine for weight loss. Treatment included suspending sibutramine and administering Aripiprazole 15 mg.ConclusionThis case serves as a poignant reminder of the potential dangers associated with using unregulated medications for weight loss purposes and underscores the importance of seeking professional medical guidance when embarking on any kind of treatment regimen."

Journal • Cardiovascular • CNS Disorders • Depression • Mood Disorders • Myocardial Infarction • Psychiatry

Bioactive Phytoconstituents Targeting Energy Expenditure and Appetite to Combat Obesity: A Comprehensive Review. (PubMed, Curr Nutr Rep) - "In comparison to traditional anti-obesity medications (e.g., phentermine, sibutramine, GLP-1 agonists), these natural alternatives have similar effectiveness with less side effects, establishing them as viable therapeutic choices for obesity treatment. These natural substances provide a safer and more effective method for weight control by focusing on neuroendocrine signaling, mitochondrial uncoupling, and adipokine modulation. Future research must concentrate on clinical validation, increase of bioavailability, and synergistic combinations to maximize anti-obesity benefits."

Journal • Review • Genetic Disorders • Metabolic Disorders • Obesity

UNLIMITED: A Phase 3, Double-blind/Double-dummy, Safety/Efficacy/Superiority of Sibutramine/Topiramate XR in Adults With Overweight (clinicaltrials.gov) - P3 | N=0 | Withdrawn | Sponsor: Eurofarma Laboratorios S.A. | N=1855 ➔ 0 | Not yet recruiting ➔ Withdrawn

Enrollment change • Head-to-Head • Trial withdrawal • Genetic Disorders • Obesity

Multi-Metric Evaluation of a Green HPLC-PDA Method for Sibutramine Quantification in Herbal Teas. (PubMed, Biomed Chromatogr) - "Comprehensive multi-metric assessments further demonstrated the method's outstanding analytical performance, remarkable applicability, and notable environmental sustainability. Taken together, these results underscore that the method is not only highly reliable and precise but also eco-conscious, making it exceptionally well suited for routine screening and monitoring of complex herbal matrices, fully aligning with the principles of white analytical chemistry."

Journal • Cardiovascular • Genetic Disorders

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