Biased Signaling: Option Für Die Entwicklung Von Adipositas-Medikamenten?

The leptin-melanocortin pathway is playing a pivotal role for central body weight regulation. The melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) is essential to induce satiety after activation by the endogenous ligands α-/β-melanocyte-stimulating hormone. The relevance of biased signaling is exemplified by an MC4R agonist, which has been approved for the treatment of rare forms of monogenic obesity. Here biased signaling is discussed as new option to develop drugs with an improved safety profile.