Endocrine Abstracts

Dietressa is a novel drug for the treatment of obesity containing ultra low doses of antibodies to CB1 receptor. A number of new drugs are now at different stages of development, and cannabinoid receptor type 1 is one of the most challenging targets for obesity treatment. However, there are some safety concerns over CB1 receptor antagonists, especially their psychological adverse effects.

The study included two parts: the first one was performed on 33 C57B1 male mice (baseline weight 12–14 g, 28 days) receiving a modified high-fat (45%) diet (MP Biomedicals, USA) in combination with distilled water (control, 0.2 ml/mice ig), sibutramine (10 mg/kg ig) or Dietressa (0.2 ml/mice ig) for 2 months. The second one was conducted on 20 white outbred laboratory male rats (230–250 g, 6–8 months) administered with distilled water (control, 2.5 ml/kg ig) or Dietressa at 2 (control, 2.5 ml/kg ig) for 5 days. Reinforcing potential was evaluated using the self-stimulation reaction (SSR) in Skinner box.

Starting from week 6 of administration Dietressa reduced body weight gain in mice at a high-fat diet. By the end of the study (week 8) body weight gain in the control group was 76.1%, and in Dietressa and sibutramine groups – 65.8%. Dietressa did not affect SSR frequency in rats. Discontinuation of the drug caused no withdrawal.

Preclinical studies of Dietressa revealed its ability to decrease body weight gain in experimental animals on a high fat diet without withdrawal symptoms.

Declaration of interest: I fully declare a conflict of interest. Details below:

Funding: This work was supported, however funding details unavailable.