BioCentury
ARTICLE | Targets & Mechanisms

ALK7's obese functions

September 25, 2014 7:00 AM UTC

Reduced b-adrenergic signaling has long been associated with obesity, but the likelihood of triggering cardiovascular side effects has prevented companies from targeting the pathway for weight control. Now, a new-and possibly safer-way to upregulate b-adrenergic activity without using catecholamines has emerged from findings that show inhibition of ALK7 restores b-adrenergic signaling specifically in fat cells and decreases weight gain in mouse models of obesity.1

Acceleron Pharma Inc. has licensed the findings and is pursuing a discovery program for ALK7 (activin A receptor type 1C; ACVR1C) antagonists. ALK7 is a receptor in the transforming growth factor-b (TGFB; TGFb) super family...