Adipotide FTTP

Adipotide was created and entered phase I clinical trials in 2011 to test its power to destroy fat cells. Experiments in rhesus monkeys showed that adipotide triggers targeted cell death in the blood vessels of white adipose tissue (fat). Without blood flow, the fat cells died off. This led to quick weight loss, a fast drop in body mass index (BMI), and better insulin resistance traits. Notably, adipotide treatment and the resulting fat loss not only helped with weight but also shifted eating habits. Monkeys that slimmed down with adipotide ate less food overall. Adipotide's focus on blood vessels for fat cells might involve a protein receptor named prohibitin. This membrane protein could be unique to blood vessels in white fat and in cancer cells. Research has shown that adipotide links up with this protein. If prohibitin turns out to be limited to fat vessels and cancer tissue, adipotide studies could highlight a fat-specific target useful for both treatment and diagnosis.