According to the World Health Organization (WHO), since 1975, over 650 million obesity cases have been reported globally. This global obesity is significantly associated with various comorbidities such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, asthma, fatty liver, osteoarthritis, cancer, etc. Â In severe obesity patients, changes in lifestyles like diet and exercise measures are insufficient for weight loss. Hence, this global obesity sets challenges for healthcare companies to manufacture active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) to act as weight-loss agents and lower the risk of obesity-related health issues.
Several medications such as orlistat, liraglutide, and phentermine-topiramate have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as anti-obesity drugs. However, these drugs show differences in effectiveness and lead to the occurrence of adverse events. As a result, usage of these medications is clinically limited. In this regard, XENOS Pharmaceuticals has developed the “XEN-D0501” oral formulation for more effective obesity treatment. This drug is creating promising interest among healthcare professionals and patients.
XEN-D0501 specifically antagonizes the activity of receptors in the brain that control appetite. Hence, it leads to a decrease in food cravings and consumption of overall calories. The active ingredient of XEN-D0501 oral formulation’s mechanism of action is to affect the reward and pleasure centers of the brain. This facilitates the reduction in psychological and emotional drives which lead to overeating. Finally, this drug helps in weight loss.
Till now, phase 1 and phase 2 clinical trials have been conducted to demonstrate the efficiency, safety, and tolerability of XEN-D0501. These trials showed promising results in short-term clinical settings. However, there is a need for conducting long-term clinical trials, especially phase 3, to conclude its long-term effectiveness, safety, and tolerability compared to other available anti-obesity medications.
The drug is well tolerated by subjects and reported a few side effects in phase 1 clinical trials. Subjects showed the weight reduction compared to placebo in phase 2 clinical trials. Some experts believe that the effectiveness of a drug may affected by factors such as lifestyle changes and patient adherence. Hence, while using XEN-D0501 formulations, the participant needs to modify their diet plans and exercise routines to achieve weight loss.
The long-term safety and efficacy of oral XEN-D0501 have not been fully confirmed. There may be an occurrence of unwanted adverse events in later clinical testing. Although initial clinical results show better results, it remains unsure how the drug will be effective in long-term clinical settings. Continuous monitoring is essential for demonstrating safety reports, identifying adverse events, and ensuring that they are addressed promptly. It is most important to ensure that patients follow prescribed regimens and provide continuous support to obese patients.
XEN-D0501 is a new advanced medication in the treatment of obesity. It is offering potential effectiveness for people with severe obesity and its related health diseases or complications. Even though oral XEN-D0501 shows promising effectiveness, with few adverse events and well tolerability, it is not a miracle pill for obesity. In the end, addressing the growing obesity effectively requires a combination of pharmaceutical medications, diet, physical activity, and continuous psychological and emotional support.
Reference: The Daily Guardian (TDG). Is XEN-D0501 the Next Breakthrough in Obesity Treatment? Published December 23, 2024. Accessed December 26, 2024. https://thedailyguardian.com/medically-speaking/is-xen-d0501-the-next-breakthrough-in-obesity-treatment/
