pN162

pN162 is a highly potent and selective antibody-based agonist of the melanocortin receptor 4 (MC4R), developed by Confo Therapeutics. It is the first reported ligand that is specific to MC4R, showing full agonist pharmacology without activity at other melanocortin receptor subtypes. MC4R is a class A G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) that plays a central role in regulating hunger and satiety, making it an important target for anti-obesity therapies. Unlike previous peptide agonists, pN162 binds deeply within the orthosteric pocket of MC4R and does not require calcium as a cofactor for activation; instead, it uses unique amino acid interactions to activate the receptor. The drug was discovered using Confo’s proprietary technology platform and its structure has been resolved in complex with MC4R via cryo-EM studies[3][5]. The primary indication under investigation is obesity, particularly genetic forms.