Obesity prevalence in the US has risen to epidemic proportions. Pharmacotherapy is indicated for weight reduction in patients with body mass index (BMI) >=30 kg/m 2 as well as those with BMI >=27 kg/m 2 in the presence of co-morbid risk factors. However, currently there are very few pharmacologic treatment options for weight reduction, and the available treatments fail to provide adequate benefit for many obese patients because of lack of efficacy, side effects, or contraindications. Hence, there is considerable need for developing new treatments for the management of obesity. Zonisamide, a drug that is currently marketed as an antiepileptic, has been shown to promote significant weight loss in obese patients in a 16-week preliminary investigation conducted by our group. However, the pharmaceutical company that has exclusive marketing rights for zonisamide in the US will not conduct further studies of longer duration with a larger sample of patients to seek a new indication, as the market exclusivity on this drug is due to expire in less than two years. Because Zonisamide can be a potential weapon in our fight against obesity, we wish to pursue this idea further via a randomised clinical trial examining the efficacy of the drug over a year. Since our preliminary trial design did not allow us to assess whether a smaller dose of zonisamide might also be effective, we will examine dose-response in this study in addition to assessment of long-term efficacy and safety. We will also systematically assess whether weight loss achieved with zonisamide treatment can reduce metabolic and cardiovascular risk factors.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01DK067352-04
Application #
7392638
Study Section
Integrative Physiology of Obesity and Diabetes Study Section (IPOD)
Program Officer
Kuczmarski, Robert J
Project Start
2005-04-01
Project End
2010-03-31
Budget Start
2008-04-01
Budget End
2009-03-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2008
Total Cost
$293,355
Indirect Cost
Name
Duke University
Department
Psychiatry
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
044387793
City
Durham
State
NC
Country
United States
Zip Code
27705
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Gadde, Kishore M; Kopping, Mariko F; Wagner 2nd, H Ryan et al. (2012) Zonisamide for weight reduction in obese adults: a 1-year randomized controlled trial. Arch Intern Med 172:1557-64
Ostbye, Truls; Kolotkin, Ronette L; He, Hong et al. (2011) Sexual functioning in obese adults enrolling in a weight loss study. J Sex Marital Ther 37:224-35