David I Rosenstein

US Patent:

20050101535, May 12, 2005

Filed:

May 6, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/841961

Inventors:

David Rosenstein - Las Vegas NV, US
Michael Nasiak - Las Vegas NV, US

International Classification:

A61K038/22

US Classification:

514012000

Abstract:

People who are on chronic steroids are known to have depressed levels of ACTH and thus should also have decreased levels of α-MSH. Recent data show that people with altered Melanocortin-4 (MC4) receptors (receptor for α-MSH) have strongly associated rates (100%) of Binge Eating Disorder diagnosable of DSM IV criteria. All patients who are on steroids and have low levels of ACTH, and thus low levels of α-MSH, could appear phenotypically identical to those with altered Melanocortin-4 receptors (MC4R). Patients with iatrogenically induced α-MSH deficiencies (including patients on chronic steroid therapy) could be expected to respond to exogenous α-MSH or MC4R agonist supplementation. Exogenous α-MSH or MC4R agonist treatment should also decrease serum leptin levels; therefore, the present invention provides a method of decreasing steroid induced weight gain by employing α-MSH agonists.