The role of leptin in the development of obesity is proving to be quite complex. Accordingly, leptin-based treatment may not be available for some time. But researchers have not lost hope. In fact, certain advances have spurred continuing research, such as the cloning of a long form of leptin receptor that is thought to be crucial to signal transduction. The recent findings were presented at IBC USA's 3rd International Conference on ‘Obesity - Advances in Understanding and Treatment’ [San Diego, US; September 1996]. In an interview withInpharma®, Dr Louis A Tartaglia from Millenium Pharmaceuticals explained the significance of recent developments in this field of research.