Back to discover
Disease

Obesity due to melanocortin 4 receptor deficiency

Late-stage therapeutic development

Also known as MC4R deficiency.

24
Clinical trials
12
Associated genes
8
Related proteins
Current focus
Leptin biologyMelanocortin 4 biologyTherapeutic developmentDisease mechanisms & pathology

What's happening now

An analyst briefing on current research, clinical, regulatory and industry activity surrounding this disease.

Executive briefingUpdating summary…Momentum: High
Key developments
  • 6 clinical trials expected to report results, the earliest in Q2 2027.
Upcoming Milestones
Clinical Milestones18View all 18
Results expected 5
Recently completed 5
Other updates 5
+10 more in the activity timeline below
Activity timeline18

Clinical trials

10 sponsors · 4 new · 6 completed in the last 12 months (net +3)

The current development programme across all trial phases.

Clinical programme
24
All trials
6
Active
18
Late-stage
6
Completed
Late-stage studies

Weight Maintenance in Adolescents With Obesity; Long-Term Treatment With Semaglutide s.c.2.4 mg Once-weekly

Phase 4 · Active, not recruiting · Novo Nordisk A/S

A Phase IV Study to Assess the Effect of Naltrexone Hydrochloride Extended Release (ER) and Bupropion Hydrochloride ER Combination (Contrave®/Mysimba®) on the Occurrence of Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events

Phase 4 · Active, not recruiting · Currax Pharmaceuticals

Effect of Metformin ER With Hypocaloric Diet on Weight Loss in Overweight/Obese Patients With Increased Waist Circumference

Phase 4 · Active, not recruiting · University of California, Los Angeles

A Phase 3b Study to Investigate the Efficacy and Safety of Different Retatrutide Dose Escalation Schemes in Participants Without Type 2 Diabetes Who Have Obesity or Overweight: A Randomized, Controlled, Double-Blind Trial

Phase 3 · Active, not recruiting · Eli Lilly and Company

Efficacy, Metabolic and Cardiovascular Effects of Liraglutide in Children Aged 6-12 Years With Severe Obesity: A Randomized Controlled Trial With Advanced Echocardiographic Assessment

Phase 4 · Active, not recruiting · University of Sao Paulo General Hospital

A Master Protocol to Investigate the Efficacy and Safety of Orforglipron Once Daily in Participants With Hypertension and Obesity or Overweight: Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trials (ATTAIN-HYPERTENSION)

Phase 3 · Active, not recruiting · Eli Lilly and Company
Recently completed

Efficacy and Safety of Cagrilintide s.c. in Combination With Semaglutide s.c.(CagriSema s.c. 1.0 mg/1.0 mg and 1.7 mg/1.7 mg) Once-weekly in Participants With Overweight or Obesity

Phase 3 · Completed · Novo Nordisk A/S

A Master Protocol to Investigate the Efficacy and Safety of LY3437943 Once Weekly in Participants Without Type 2 Diabetes Who Have Obesity or Overweight: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial (TRIUMPH-1)

Phase 3 · Completed · Eli Lilly and Company

A Randomized, Allocation-concealed, Assessor-blinded, Parallel-group Trial Evaluating the Association Between Erectile Dysfunction and Left Ventricular Diastolic Dysfunction and Comparing the Effects of Tadalafil, SGLT2 Inhibitors, and Their Combination in Patients With Metabolic Syndrome.

Phase 4 · Completed · Kafrelsheikh University

A Phase 3, Open-Label Study of Once Daily LY3502970 Compared With Insulin Glargine in Adult Participants With Type 2 Diabetes and Obesity or Overweight at Increased Cardiovascular Risk

Phase 3 · Completed · Eli Lilly and Company

Efficacy and Safety of Ixekizumab or Ixekizumab Concomitantly Administered With Tirzepatide in Adult Participants With Moderate-to-Severe Plaque Psoriasis and Obesity or Overweight: A Phase 3b, Randomized, Multicenter, Open-Label Study (TOGETHER-PsO)

Phase 3 · Completed · Eli Lilly and Company

Efficacy and Safety of Ixekizumab or Ixekizumab Concomitantly Administered With Tirzepatide in Adult Participants With Active Psoriatic Arthritis and Obesity or Overweight: A Phase 3b, Randomized, Multicenter, Open-Label Study (TOGETHER-PsA)

Phase 3 · Completed · Eli Lilly and Company

Evidence coverage

8 treatments

How much of this condition's readable clinical evidence the confidence engine has incorporated, across its most-studied treatments. This measures coverage of the evidence base — not whether any treatment works.

Partial evidence coverage
52% · 124/240 eligible items incorporated

Largest gap: off claim endpoint family (8, endpoint-family).

Associated genes

12 matches

Genes associated with this disease in the canonical knowledge graph (Open Targets evidence). Number shows the association score.

MC4R0.69HEATR30.49MYT1L0.48PCSK10.41SIM10.40BBS90.38PHIP0.38BBS40.38BBS100.38BBS120.38TTC80.38BBS50.38

Disease biology

8 matches

Proteins whose encoding gene is associated with this disease, reached through the canonical gene→disease graph. Number shows the gene's association score.

Melanocortin receptor 4via MC4R0.69Leptinvia LEP0.15Adiponectinvia ADIPOQ0.13Growth/differentiation factor 15via GDF150.13Mitochondrial brown fat uncoupling protein 1via UCP10.12Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalinvia LCN20.12Angiopoietin-like protein 8via ANGPTL80.12Islet amyloid polypeptidevia IAPP0.08

Reference

Authoritative identity, definition & identifiers.

Synonyms

MC4R deficiency

References & data sources
  • Disease identity & definition — NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH), public domain
  • Clinical trials — ClinicalTrials.gov (U.S. National Library of Medicine)
  • Related entities are derived from literature co-mention (studied together) — associative, not causal.