1 A novel and selective beta-MSH derived peptide agonist for melanocortin 4 receptor potently decreased food intake and body weight gain in diet-induced obese rats Hansen M. Hsiung 1* , JeAnne Hertel 1 , Xing-yue Zhang 1 , Dennis P. Smith 1 , David L. Smiley 2 , Mark L. Heiman 1 , Derek D. Yang 2 , Saba Husain 4 , John P. Mayer 2 , Lianshan Zhang 2 , Huaping Mo 3 , and Liang Zeng Yan 2 Divisions of Endocrine Research 1 , Bio-therapeutics Discovery Research 2 and Discovery Chemistry & Research Technology 3 , Lead Optimization Biology 4 , Eli Lilly and Co., Indianapolis, Indiana 46285 and Eli Lilly and Company. Running title: Selective melanocortin receptor peptide agonists *Address all correspondences and requests for reprints to: Hansen M. Hsiung, Ph.D. Obesity Drug Hunting Team DC0424 Lilly Corporate Center Lilly Research Laboratories Eli Lilly and Co. Indianapolis, IN 46285 Phone: 317-276-4609/Fax: 317-276-6510 E-mail: Hsiung@Lilly.com Endocrinology. First published September 15, 2005 as doi:10.1210/en.2005-0177 Copyright (C) 2005 by The Endocrine Society