Melanocortin 4 Receptor (MC4R) Agonist - Pipeline Insight, 2025

This “Melanocortin 4 Receptor (MC4R) Agonist - Pipeline Insight, 2025” report provides comprehensive insights about 10+ companies and 12+ pipeline drugs in Melanocortin 4 Receptor (MC4R) Agonist pipeline landscape. It covers the pipeline drug profiles, including clinical and nonclinical stage products. It also covers the therapeutics assessment by product type, stage, route of administration, and molecule type. It further highlights the inactive pipeline products in this space.

Melanocortin 4 Receptor (MC4R) Agonist: Understanding

Melanocortin 4 Receptor (MC4R) Agonist: Overview

The melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) is one of five human melanocortin receptor subtypes (MC1-5R) that share a set of similar peptidic ligands and constitute an evolutionarily related group of class A G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). MCRs regulate energy homeostasis, pigmentation, cardiovascular function, and sexual functions. In particular, the MC4R plays a central role in energy balance and appetite regulation. The melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R), a hypothalamic master regulator of energy homeostasis and appetite, is a class A G-protein-coupled receptor and a prime target for the pharmacological treatment of obesity.

The melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) pathway, a key component of the central melanocortin pathway, regulates hunger, caloric intake and energy expenditure, consequently affecting body weight. The importance of the MC4R pathway’s control of energy balance has made it a compelling target for the potential treatment of body weight diseases. A functional MC4R pathway balances energy intake and energy expenditure to help maintain a stable body weight. In the physiologic state, MC4R pathway activation begins when first-order proopiomelanocortin (POMC)-producing neurons are stimulated to release melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH) in response to leptin receptor (LEPR) activation (by the hormone, leptin).Of the four major endogenous melanocortins, the MC4R has the highest affinity for β-MSH, followed by α-MSH and ACTH, and then γ-MSH (β-MSH > α-MSH > ACTH > γ-MSH) (114). Both Agouti and AgRP are antagonists for the MC4R. The dogfish MC4R has similar pharmacological properties as the hMC4R; therefore, the ligand binding sites were established more than 450 million years ago. Peptide agonists bind in a β-turn conformation that organizes the pharmacophore His-Phe-Arg-Trp in an optimal arrangement for binding and activation of the receptor. The N terminus and the ELs are not important for peptide agonist binding.

Setmelanotide (also termed RM-493, BIM-22493 or IRC-022493) is the first FDA-approved (2020) medication (brand name Imcivree) for the treatment of rare genetic conditions resulting in obesity, including pro-opiomelanocortin deficiency (POMC), proprotein subtilisin/kexin type 1 deficiency (PCSK1), and leptin receptor deficiency (LEPR). Another FDA-approved (2019), synthetic but non-selective MCR agonist, NDP-α-MSH (also termed afamelanotide; brand name Scenesse), is a linear high-affinity analog of α-MSH13 for the treatment of MC1R-driven melanogenesis, thereby preventing skin damage from sun exposure (phototoxicity) in individuals with erythropoietic protoporphyria.

The numerous adverse effects of known MCR ligands call for the discovery of more selective ligands for specific MCR subtypes, particularly the MC4R, as the globally increasing prevalence of human obesity is a growing medical and socioeconomic problem. “Melanocortin 4 Receptor (MC4R) Agonist - Pipeline Insight, 2025' report outlays comprehensive insights of present scenario and growth prospects across the mechanism of action. A detailed picture of the Melanocortin 4 Receptor (MC4R) Agonist pipeline landscape is provided which includes the disease overview and Melanocortin 4 Receptor (MC4R) Agonist treatment guidelines. The assessment part of the report embraces, in depth Melanocortin 4 Receptor (MC4R) Agonist commercial assessment and clinical assessment of the pipeline products under development. In the report, detailed description of the drug is given which includes mechanism of action of the drug, clinical studies, NDA approvals (if any), and product development activities comprising the technology, Melanocortin 4 Receptor (MC4R) Agonist collaborations, licensing, mergers and acquisition, funding, designations and other product related details.

Report Highlights

The companies and academics are working to assess challenges and seek opportunities that could influence Melanocortin 4 Receptor (MC4R) Agonist R&D. The therapies under development are focused on novel approaches to treat/improve Melanocortin 4 Receptor (MC4R) Agonist.

Melanocortin 4 Receptor (MC4R) Agonist Emerging Drugs Chapters

This segment of the Melanocortin 4 Receptor (MC4R) Agonist report encloses its detailed analysis of various drugs in different stages of clinical development, including phase II, I, preclinical and Discovery. It also helps to understand clinical trial details, expressive pharmacological action, agreements and collaborations, and the latest news and press releases.

Melanocortin 4 Receptor (MC4R) Agonist Emerging Drugs

LR 19021: LG Chem

LB54640 is a compound name for LR19021. LB54640 is an oral drug administered once a day which targets the pathway of the protein MC4R. A special feature of LB54640 is its ability to suppress appetite by directly activating MC4R, which sends the final signal for satiety, even when MC4R’s upper pathway genes (‘LEPR,’ ‘POMC,’ etc.) are defective. LB54640 has shown to be safe and well-tolerated in GLP toxicity studies. The efficacy and safety profiles of LB54640 observed in preclinical studies suggests that LB54640 can be a safe and effective drug for the patients with genetic obesity. Currently, the drug is in the Phase II stage of its development for the treatment of genetic obesity.

RM 718: Rhythm Pharmaceuticals

RM-718 is an investigational, weekly, MC4R-specific agonist that has demonstrated the potential to reduce body weight and hunger in preclinical studies. RM-718 is designed to be highly selective and MC1Rsparing and thereby not cause hyperpigmentation. . Currently, the drug is in the Phase I stage of its development for the treatment of hyperpigmentation.

Melanocortin 4 Receptor (MC4R) Agonist: Therapeutic Assessment

This segment of the report provides insights about the different Melanocortin 4 Receptor (MC4R) Agonist drugs segregated based on following parameters that define the scope of the report, such as:

Major Players in Melanocortin 4 Receptor (MC4R) Agonist

There are approx. 10+ key companies which are developing the therapies for Melanocortin 4 Receptor (MC4R) Agonist. The companies which have their Melanocortin 4 Receptor (MC4R) Agonist drug candidates in the most advanced stage, i.e. Phase III include, LG Chem.

Phases

The report covers around 12+ products under different phases of clinical development like

• Late stage products (Phase III)
• Mid-stage products (Phase II)
• Early-stage product (Phase I) along with the details of
• Pre-clinical and Discovery stage candidates
• Discontinued & Inactive candidates

Route of Administration

Melanocortin 4 Receptor (MC4R) Agonist pipeline report provides the therapeutic assessment of the pipeline drugs by the Route of Administration. Products have been categorized under various ROAs such as

• Intra-articular
• Intraocular
• Intrathecal
• Intravenous
• Oral
• Parenteral
• Subcutaneous
• Topical
• Transdermal

Molecule Type

Products have been categorized under various Molecule types such as

• Oligonucleotide
• Peptide
• Small molecule

Product Type

Drugs have been categorized under various product types like Mono, Combination and Mono/Combination.

Melanocortin 4 Receptor (MC4R) Agonist: Pipeline Development Activities

The report provides insights into different therapeutic candidates in phase II, I, preclinical and discovery stage. It also analyses Melanocortin 4 Receptor (MC4R) Agonist therapeutic drugs key players involved in developing key drugs.

Pipeline Development Activities

The report covers the detailed information of collaborations, acquisition and merger, licensing along with a thorough therapeutic assessment of emerging Melanocortin 4 Receptor (MC4R) Agonist drugs.

Melanocortin 4 Receptor (MC4R) Agonist Report Insights

• Melanocortin 4 Receptor (MC4R) Agonist Pipeline Analysis
• Therapeutic Assessment
• Unmet Needs
• Impact of Drugs

Melanocortin 4 Receptor (MC4R) Agonist Report Assessment

• Pipeline Product Profiles
• Therapeutic Assessment
• Pipeline Assessment
• Inactive drugs assessment
• Unmet Needs

Key Questions

Current Treatment Scenario and Emerging Therapies:

• How many companies are developing Melanocortin 4 Receptor (MC4R) Agonist drugs?
• How many Melanocortin 4 Receptor (MC4R) Agonist drugs are developed by each company?
• How many emerging drugs are in mid-stage, and late-stage of development for the treatment of Melanocortin 4 Receptor (MC4R) Agonist?
• What are the key collaborations (Industry-Industry, Industry-Academia), Mergers and acquisitions, licensing activities related to the Melanocortin 4 Receptor (MC4R) Agonist therapeutics?
• What are the recent trends, drug types and novel technologies developed to overcome the limitation of existing therapies?
• What are the clinical studies going on for Melanocortin 4 Receptor (MC4R) Agonist and their status?
• What are the key designations that have been granted to the emerging drugs?

Key Players

• LG Chem
• Rhythm Pharmaceuticals
• Palatin Technologies
• Cosette Pharmaceuticals
• Endevica Bio

Key Products

• LR 19021
• RM 718
• PL8905
• Bremelanotide/PDE5 inhibitor
• Bremelanotide
• A07 D
• PL 8905

This product will be delivered within 2 business days.