A groundbreaking discovery by researchers at Stanford Medicine may offer a promising alternative to semaglutide-based weight loss treatments like Ozempic and Wegovy, potentially minimizing common side effects such as nausea. The study, published in Nature last week, outlines the identification of a naturally occurring peptide that could significantly aid in weight loss without the gastrointestinal issues often associated with current obesity medications.
The team of scientists utilized artificial intelligence to pinpoint a previously unknown peptide that appeared to reduce appetite and promote weight loss in animal models, specifically mice and miniature pigs. These results are particularly intriguing as they suggest that this peptide, now referred to as BRP, could offer a more tolerable option for those seeking obesity treatment. However, further research is needed to assess its safety and efficacy in humans.
Semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy, has revolutionized obesity medicine by offering significant weight loss results, with clinical trials showing a reduction of 15% to 20% of body weight in many users. Semaglutide mimics the GLP-1 hormone, which plays a key role in regulating appetite and metabolism. Similar drugs, such as tirzepatide, target GLP-1 as well as other related hormones, making them highly effective for weight management and type 2 diabetes treatment.
Despite their effectiveness, these medications often cause unpleasant gastrointestinal side effects, including nausea, and in rare cases, more severe conditions like gastroparesis. This has prompted ongoing research into developing drugs with fewer side effects. The Stanford team’s innovative approach to identifying a new therapeutic peptide involved studying the enzymes that activate prohormones, which are precursors to hormones that regulate hunger.
Through the development of a specialized algorithm, the researchers analyzed over 2,700 potential peptides and identified 100 that might influence hunger regulation. From this group, they focused on a peptide named BRP, which consists of just 12 amino acids. When tested in laboratory mice and minipigs, BRP reduced hunger by up to 50% and led to significant weight loss in obese mice, particularly in the form of fat.
Unlike semaglutide, BRP’s mechanism does not involve the GLP-1 receptor, a primary target of many obesity drugs. Remarkably, it did not produce the gastrointestinal symptoms commonly seen with semaglutide, and the animals showed no significant changes in their behavior, movement, or hydration levels. This suggests that BRP could be a safe and effective alternative for weight loss treatments.
Katrin Svensson, assistant professor of pathology at Stanford and senior researcher on the study, explained that semaglutide impacts multiple systems in the body, including the gut and pancreas, which accounts for its broad range of effects. In contrast, BRP acts primarily on the hypothalamus, the brain region responsible for regulating appetite and metabolism.
While these findings are still in the early stages, they offer an exciting glimpse into the future of obesity treatment. The discovery of BRP adds to the growing number of experimental drugs poised to challenge or even surpass the effectiveness of current treatments like Ozempic. Svensson and her team have already patented BRP and are in the process of developing it for clinical use through a company they co-founded.
The discovery represents a significant step forward in the search for obesity treatments with fewer side effects. As research continues, the potential for a drug that not only aids in weight loss but also minimizes common side effects like nausea is an encouraging prospect for those struggling with obesity.
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