AZD1979

AZD1979 is a potent, orally administered small molecule antagonist of the melanin-concentrating hormone receptor 1 (MCHR1). It was developed by AstraZeneca for the treatment of obesity. The drug acts by blocking MCHR1, a G protein-coupled receptor involved in regulating food intake and energy expenditure. Preclinical studies demonstrated that AZD1979 reduced body weight in diet-induced obese mice and dogs, primarily through decreased food intake and preserved energy expenditure. Its specificity for MCHR1 was confirmed using knockout models. Despite promising preclinical results, clinical development was discontinued after phase 1 trials assessing safety and pharmacokinetics in healthy male volunteers[2][3][7].