Washington: An experimental injectable drug that attacks the blood vessels that "nourish" the adipocytes, gave very good results in experiments conducted in obese monkeys.

It is characteristic that the animals received the drug lost about 40% of their body fat in just one month, as stated by researchers at MD Anderson Center for Cancer at the University of Texas by publication in the journal «Science Translational Medicine». 

Scientists estimate that the drug called Adipotide will help in the "blowout" of the abdomen of humans and indeed planning clinical trials in obese patients with prostate cancer. 

A different approach

The Adipotide based on a different philosophy than existing treatments for obesity, which aim to control appetite, reduce absorption of fat from the body and increase metabolism.This treatment binds to surface proteins of the blood vessels supplying blood to the white fat cells of the body - this is the kind of fat is concentrated under the skin in the abdomen. After attachment of the drug releases a synthetic molecule which "triggers" a natural process of adipocyte death known as apoptosis. Furthermore, as shown by the experiments Adipotide reduces appetite. 

The monkeys that received daily injections of the drug and who had become obese due to overeating and physical inactivity, have lost 11% body weight in just four weeks. At the same time lost the 38.7% of their body fat and the belly "shrunk" by 27%. 

But there were also side effects. Appeared particularly increased urination and slight dehydration, which are both symptoms of mild renal insufficiency. However, these symptoms appeared to be reversible and associated with the dose of the drug-treated animals. 

Tests in humans

Now scientists plan to inject the drug in obese patients with prostate cancer with the hope that it will be able to comprehensively improve their health. 

According to study leader Dr. Gouantich nigger "Obesity is a major risk factor for developing cancer, similar to smoking. For obese patients with cancer therapeutic interventions - both surgery and chemotherapy and radiation - not so good results. This weight loss can help with all aspects of their health. " 

If clinical tests give good results, scientists hope the drug will be widely circulated as a treatment against obesity in the coming years.