Anti-Obesity Vaccine Prototype Targeting Ghrelin Hormone
Filed in archive Drugs, Vaccines and Therapeutics on August 1, 2006
Scientists from the Scripps Research Insitute have developed an anti-obesity vaccine that targets the hormone ghrelin, which plays a role in regulating energy expenditure and fat storage.
During periods of weight loss, such as dieting, the body produces high levels of ghrelin to slow down fat metabolism, encourage eating, and promote fat retention, changes which normally make it difficult to lose weight and keep it off.
The vaccine works be inhibiting ghrelin from reaching the brain and thus prevent the cascade of metabolic reactions that, collectively and ultimately, prevents weight loss. Tests using animal models demonstrated that vaccinated rats ate normally yet gained less weight and had less body fat.
Read the full feature story from Scripps and the news report from Reuters.
[Photo: A molecular representation of the first 10 N-terminal amino acids of ghrelin, a naturally occurring hormone that helps regulate energy balance in the body, Courtesy of Scripps]

Tags: vaccine obesity biotech ghrelin hormone anti+obesity obesity+vaccine ghrelin+hormone
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Rating: 7.50 out of 4 vote(s) cast.
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Response from:
amira sidaross
(08/04/06 5:35pm)
I would like to know if the vaccine is already available in commerce , if so how can I get it in Italy
Response from:
Ivy
(08/07/06 8:55pm)
Amira, hold your horses. It will be years before this drug hits the market. Until than, we'll just have to so it old way: watch out what we eat and exercise.
Response from:
ruth
(08/07/06 9:08pm)
hi amira! ivy is right, it will take years, if at all, for this vaccine to be marketed. it's still on the very early phases of development and hasn't even reached human trials.
Response from:
megal blair
(03/10/11 2:09am)
will like be to in the study group,for Anit-Obesity Vaccine,257lbs only 5"4. Please Help!!!!
Response from:
Melanie
(04/17/11 5:36pm)
I would love to be part of this study. I have struggled with my weight for 20 years and have lost 100 pounds 5 times only to gain it back. I always thought it was will power and even thought about gastric bypass. Till i started reading about gherlin.
Response from:
Are you a beauty?
As my fellow Creative Weblogger Ruth published on her Biotech Weblog, the genius scientist from the Scripps institute, have discovered a shot that has a potential of slowing the weight gain and reducing fat. "In the new study, mature male...
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