The drug camptothecin has been around since 1966 and was previously used as a cancer drug. But according to Fierce Biotech, Chinese researchers have been testing another application — weight loss.
Obese mice who received the drug lost 11 percent of their body weight in 30 days, with most of the reduction from fat reserves. Researchers believe that the initial rodent tests are promising, but there are skeptics. Camptothecin was sidelined as a cancer drug due to its side effects, which include constipation, shortness of breath, insomnia, headache and flu-like symptoms.
Rick Good spent ten years in the newspaper business, including with The News & Observer (Raleigh, NC) and The Greenville News (Greenville, SC). He co-wrote, with Melinda Coleman, Rutledge to Riley: Governors of South Carolina, 1776–Present (Published by The Greenville News), and is the author of Mind Games Trivia #1 (Amazon). He has recently spent 15 years creating original trivia content through Sounds Good Mobile Entertainment and continues that with his new company, SGME Software. He edits The Smart Reader’s money, real estate, and business coverage.
