Methods and pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment of obesity

1. A method of treating obesity in an obese subject in need thereof, comprising administering to the obese subject a therapeutically effective amount of an indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) inhibitor selected from the group consisting of β-(3-benzofuranyl)-alanine, β-(3-benzo(b)thienyl)-alanine, 6-nitro-tryptophan, 6-fluoro-tryptophan, 4-methyl-tryptophan, 5-methyl tryptophan, 6-methyl-tryptophan, 5-methoxy-tryptophan, 5-hydroxy-tryptophan, 3,3′-diindolylmethane, 5-Br-4-Cl-indoxyl 1,3-diacetate, 9-vinylcarbazole, acemetacin, 5-bromo-tryptophan, 5-bromoindoxyl diacetate, pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate, and 4-phenylimidazole.

2. A method of treatment to reduce severity of or delay onset of at least one symptom of an obesity-related disease in an obese subject in need thereof, comprising administering to the obese subject a therapeutically effective amount of an indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) inhibitor selected from the group consisting of β-(3-benzofuranyl)-alanine, β-(3-benzo(b)thienyl)-alanine, 6-nitro-tryptophan, 6-fluoro-tryptophan, 4-methyl-tryptophan, 5-methyl tryptophan, 6-methyl-tryptophan, 5-methoxy-tryptophan, 5-hydroxy-tryptophan, 3,3′-diindolylmethane, 5-Br-4-Cl-indoxyl 1,3-diacetate, 9-vinylcarbazole, acemetacin, 5-bromo-tryptophan, 5-bromoindoxyl diacetate, pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate, and 4-phenylimidazole,

wherein said at least one symptom is selected from the group consisting of impaired fasting glucose, impaired glucose tolerance, inflammation, systemic inflammation, low plasma levels of high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol with either normal or elevated levels of low density (LDL) cholesterol, impaired insulin sensitivity, and reduced metabolic activity or resting energy expenditure as a percentage of total fat-free mass.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the obesity-related disease is selected from the group consisting of diabetes, hypertension, elevated plasma insulin concentration, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and hyperlipidemia.

4. A method of improving insulin sensitivity in an obese subject or a subject at risk of obesity in need thereof, comprising administering to the obese subject a therapeutically effective amount of an indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) inhibitor selected from the group consisting of β-(3-benzofuranyl)-alanine, β-(3-benzo(b)thienyl)-alanine, 6-nitro-tryptophan, 6-fluoro-tryptophan, 4-methyl-tryptophan, 5-methyl tryptophan, 6-methyl-tryptophan, 5-methoxy-tryptophan, 5-hydroxy-tryptophan, 3,3′-diindolylmethane, 5-Br-4-Cl-indoxyl 1,3-diacetate, 9-vinylcarbazole, acemetacin, 5-bromo-tryptophan, 5-bromoindoxyl diacetate, pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate, and 4-phenylimidazole.

5. A method of inhibiting obesity or delaying onset of at least one symptom of an obesity-related disease in a subject at risk of obesity, comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of an indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) inhibitor selected from the group consisting of β-(3-benzofuranyl)-alanine, β-(3-benzo(b)thienyl)-alanine, 6-nitro-tryptophan, 6-fluoro-tryptophan, 4-methyl-tryptophan, 5-methyl tryptophan, 6-methyl-tryptophan, 5-methoxy-tryptophan, 5-hydroxy-tryptophan, 3,3′-diindolylmethane, 5-Br-4-Cl-indoxyl 1,3-diacetate, 9-vinylcarbazole, acemetacin, 5-bromo-tryptophan, 5-bromoindoxyl diacetate, pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate, and 4-phenylimidazole,

wherein said at least one symptom is selected from the group consisting of impaired fasting glucose, impaired glucose tolerance, inflammation, systemic inflammation, low plasma levels of high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol with either normal or elevated levels of low density (LDL) cholesterol, impaired insulin sensitivity, and reduced metabolic activity or resting energy expenditure as a percentage of total fat-free mass.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the obesity-related disease is selected from the group consisting of diabetes, hypertension, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and hyperlipidemia.