Can a common ADHD drug curb genetic obesity?
NCT ID NCT06899178
First seen Aug 07, 2026 · Last updated Aug 07, 2026
Summary
This phase 2 trial is testing whether atomoxetine, a drug used for ADHD, can help adults with melanocortin obesity syndrome (MCOS), a genetic condition that causes severe obesity. The drug may boost a brain protein called BDNF, which is part of the pathway disrupted in MCOS. Participants will receive either atomoxetine or a placebo in a crossover design, and researchers will measure changes in body mass index and energy expenditure.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- atomoxetine
- What this could lead to
- If atomoxetine proves effective, it could become a targeted treatment for a rare genetic form of obesity, offering a new option for people who have few choices.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small early-stage trial, so results may not hold up in larger studies. Atomoxetine can cause side effects like nausea, dry mouth, or increased heart rate, and it may not work for everyone.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Phase 2
Tests whether the treatment actually works, and watches for side effects, in a larger group.
- Participants
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About 20 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Expected to start
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Sep 2026
An estimate. Start dates often move.
- Expected to finish
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Jun 2028
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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6 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion criteria: * Age 6 years and above * Documented MC4R variant classified as pathogenic, likely pathogenic, or variant of uncertain significance per ACMG criteria. If testing was done in a research lab, it will be confirmed by a CLIA-approved lab prior to randomization. * Obesity defined as BMI ≥30 kg/m2 in adults or ≥95th percentile for age and sex in children Exclusion criteria: * Use of atomoxetine, viloxazine (another selective norepinephrine-reuptake inhibitor), methylphenidate, amphetamine, dextroamphetamine, lisdexamfetamine, phentermine, or any other stimulant medication in the past 30 days. If on other ADHD medications, such as guanfacine and clonidine, must be on a stable dose for \>3 months. * Weight loss \>5% in the past 3 months. * Initiation of new weight loss program, including diet or medications. If on weight loss medications, must be on a stable dose for \>3 months. * Inability to swallow capsules. * History of hypersensitivity to atomoxetine. * Narrow angle glaucoma. * History of pheochromocytoma. * Uncontrolled Stage 2 hypertension (≥95th percentile + 12 mmHg or \>140/90, whichever is lower) at screening. If on antihypertensive medication, must be on stable dose for \>3 months. * Hepatic insufficiency including cirrhosis and acute hepatitis (AST or ALT \>3x upper limit of normal) * Uncontrolled asthma requiring albuterol more than once weekly over the past 3 months * History of a cardiac arrhythmia (not including bradycardia) * Current use of monoamine oxidase inhibitors * Pregnancy or intention to become pregnant during the next year * History of Major Depressive Disorder in the past 2 years, lifetime history of suicide attempt, history of any suicidal behavior in the past month, history of other severe psychiatric disorders (e.g. schizophrenia, bipolar disorder) * PHQ-9 score is ≥15 or suicidal ideation of type 4 or 5 (C-SSR) in the past month * Unable to comply with study procedures in the opinion of the investigator
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
3 sites. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Mount Sinai Hospital
RECRUITINGNew York, New York, 10029, United States
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Nationwide Children's Hospital
NOT_YET_RECRUITINGColumbus, Ohio, 43205, United States
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Vanderbilt University Medical Center
NOT_YET_RECRUITINGNashville, Tennessee, 37232, United States