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Setmelanotide

Meaning

Setmelanotide is a synthetic, cyclic peptide drug that functions as a selective agonist of the melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R), a key G protein-coupled receptor in the central nervous system involved in regulating energy homeostasis and appetite. This therapeutic agent is clinically indicated for chronic weight management in patients with specific, confirmed genetic deficiencies in the MC4R pathway, such as Proopiomelanocortin (POMC) deficiency, which leads to severe, early-onset obesity and insatiable hunger. Its use represents a highly targeted, gene-specific approach to treating obesity rooted in endocrine signaling defects.