Richard--
Good point. But the common pathway seems to critically depend on the melanocortin receptor (Mc4). In the Nature article (1999;398:148), Nagle et al propose that mahogany acts either at or upstream of the melanocortin receptor (Mc4r), probably by presenting antagonists to the receptor, or perhaps by sequestering ligand. One obvious course to take, then, would be to attempt to increase the quantity and/or activity of mahogany, perhaps by synthesizing analogues or, probably more difficult, stimulating the production/slowing the degradation of mahogany. There are other possibilities, I realize, but probably much less straightforward. Yet, an even more straightforward approach would be to develop an agonist to the Mc4 receptor itself, but MLNM would appear to have relinquished any option to develop this approach as well as any variations involving the Mc4 receptor directly. It would thus appear that Roche is now in a better position than MLNM to develop an obesity treatment, particularly when you consider that, as it mentions in the second press release, the Mc4 receptor is a transmembrane G-protein coupled receptor, and
"Drugs developed from GPCRs have proven market potential, as they account for about sixty percent of all drugs manufactured."
Walkingshadow
P.S. Your statement encouraging me to read is appreciated. I do. I have (for the last 40+ years). And I will. But, if you don't know the answer to my question, a simple "I don't know" or no response would suffice. My perception of this board is that it is a discussion forum, involving give and take, with statements, opinions, ideas, speculations, questions and answers freely exchanged in the hopes that someone will find something here of value to them. This is not, as you say, Yahoo. Let's not let it devolve into anything remotely resembling it.
---WS |
