Adipotide, is able to kill fat cells thereby causing a decrease in the volume and mass of the subcutaneous fat, and this in turn leads to weight loss. Adipotide is able to kill the adipocytes (fat cells) by selectively causing programmed cell death (apoptosis) of the blood vessels supplying the adipocytes. Due to the deprivation of nutrient supply, the subsequent starvation (which causes cellular atrophy or decrease in cell size) and the accumulation of waste products in the adipocytes; an irreversible injury occurs and this leads the mitochondria to release protease enzymes called caspases (specific factors that initiate the apoptotic process) which activate the transcription (a process whereby DNA is used to create mRNA) and translation (a process whereby mRNA is used to create the nascent primary peptide) of gene sequences which ultimately leads to the production of proteins that effect the apoptotic process.
