Tesofensine

NS2330 · Tesomet (with metformin)

Rank#999
Weight LossInvestigationalPhase IIResearchOral

Popular for:Weight loss, triple monoamine reuptake inhibitor, appetite suppression

51

Total Studies

39

Human Studies

Phase II

Evidence Level

Investigational

FDA Status

Overview

Tesofensine is a serotonin-noradrenaline-dopamine reuptake inhibitor (SNDRI) originally developed by NeuroSearch for Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's. During neurological trials, researchers noticed significant weight loss as a side effect, pivoting the drug toward obesity treatment.

Phase II trials showed remarkable results: up to 12.8% body weight loss over 6 months at the 1.0 mg dose — more than double most approved obesity drugs at the time. It works through a completely different mechanism than GLP-1 agonists, reducing appetite and increasing satiety through triple monoamine reuptake inhibition rather than gut hormone signaling.

Mechanism of Action

Tesofensine inhibits the reuptake of serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine — the three major monoamine neurotransmitters involved in appetite regulation and reward. By increasing the availability of all three simultaneously, it reduces hunger, enhances satiety, and may reduce food-seeking behavior driven by the dopamine reward system. This triple action distinguishes it from SSRIs or SNRIs that affect only one or two monoamines.

Key Research Benefits

Up to 12.8% weight loss in Phase II (6 months)
Oral administration — pill form, no injection
Novel mechanism — not GLP-1 based, could be complementary
Works through appetite suppression and satiety enhancement
Being developed as Tesomet (tesofensine + metformin combination)

Clinical Evidence Summary

Research Pipeline

Preclinical
Animal
Phase I
Phase II
Phase III
Approved

51

Total Studies

39

Human Studies

Investigational — Phase III (Saniona). Tesomet (combo with metformin) in trials for Prader-Willi syndrome and hypothalamic obesity. Not yet FDA-approved. Cardiovascular safety is the key regulatory hurdle.

Key Studies / PubMed References

51 studies found on PubMed · showing top 25 by relevance

View all on PubMed

Structural basis for pharmacotherapeutic action of triple reuptake inhibitors.

Human Study

Li Y, Meng Y, Li N, et al. · Nature communications · 2025

PMID: 41392177

Tesofensine, a novel antiobesity drug, silences GABAergic hypothalamic neurons.

Animal Study

Perez CI, Luis-Islas J, Lopez A, et al. · PloS one · 2024

PMID: 38656972

Centrally Acting Agents for Obesity: Past, Present, and Future.

Review

Coulter AA, Rebello CJ, Greenway FL · Drugs · 2018

PMID: 30014268

Approaches for the Development of Drugs for Treatment of Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome.

Review

Maksimov ML, Svistunov AA, Tarasov VV, et al. · Current pharmaceutical design · 2016

PMID: 26648466

New and emerging drug molecules against obesity.

Review

George M, Rajaram M, Shanmugam E · Journal of cardiovascular pharmacology and therapeutics · 2014

PMID: 24064009

Side Effects & Safety

Increased heart rate (5-8 bpm in trials)
Dry mouth
Insomnia
Constipation
Potential for cardiovascular effects (main regulatory concern)
Not a benign compound — CNS-active, affects multiple neurotransmitter systems

Known Interactions

No curated interaction entry is live for Tesofensine yet.

Until the interaction table is fully populated, use the interaction checker and related peptides below to explore adjacent compounds and likely research pairings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Research Disclaimer

This page is for research and educational purposes only. The information presented is based on published scientific literature and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations. Tesofensine is not approved by the FDA for human therapeutic use. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making any health-related decisions. The studies referenced are linked to their original PubMed sources for verification.