December 5, 2005 -- Ghrelin, named after the Hindu word for growth, is a 28-amino acid peptide hormone that stimulates the release of growth hormone from the anterior pituitary. Discovered in 1999, ghrelin was found to have significant effects on hunger, appetite and energy metabolism. Researchers still do not understand the complex mechanism behind ghrelin, but that has not stopped phama/biotech from using it as a basis for anti-obesity drugs. We look at what is being done and who is doing it...
