Scientists at Stanford Medicine have made a significant breakthrough in the field of weight loss. They have identified a naturally occurring molecule that has shown promising results in animal studies, mirroring the weight-loss effects of semaglutide-based GLP-1s without the associated side effects. Dr. Katrin Svensson, the senior author of the research and an assistant professor of pathology at Stanford, expressed excitement about the potential of this molecule, stating that nothing they’ve tested before has shown such a significant impact on appetite and body weight.
The United States is currently grappling with a severe obesity crisis. Nearly one-third of American adults are overweight, and the country leads among high-income nations in terms of obesity rates. In 2021, there were 172 million obese and overweight Americans over the age of 25, a figure projected to rise to 214 million by 2050. The situation is equally concerning for children and adolescents.
Obesity is a significant risk factor for numerous health problems, including heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, liver disease, sleep apnea, and certain types of cancer. However, even a modest reduction in weight can help prevent or improve these conditions.
Semaglutide, originally developed to treat type 2 diabetes, has become a popular choice for those seeking to lose weight. In 2023, 5 million Americans were prescribed the drug, with nearly 40% using it for weight management. While clinical trials suggest that semaglutide can help users lose 10% to 15% of their body weight, it is not without side effects. Users have reported nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, pancreatitis, kidney problems, vision impairment, personality changes, and erectile dysfunction.
However, a team of researchers from Stanford Medicine may have found a natural alternative to semaglutide. Using an artificial intelligence program, they sifted through thousands of proteins to identify hormones that influence energy metabolism. This led them to a small, 12-amino acid molecule known as BRP.
In a study, injecting the BRP molecule reduced food intake in mice by 50%. Unlike semaglutide, which has widespread effects due to its receptors being found in the brain, gut, pancreas, and other tissues, BRP appears to act specifically in the hypothalamus, which controls appetite and metabolism.
When lean male mice were injected with BRP, their food intake reduced by 50% within an hour. Similar effects were observed in minipigs, whose metabolism and eating habits closely resemble those of humans. In a 14-day trial with obese mice, BRP injections led to an average fat loss of 3 grams, while the control mice gained weight. The treated mice also showed improved glucose and insulin tolerance, with no noticeable side effects.
Dr. Svensson is now looking to conduct human clinical trials for BRP and has co-founded a company to facilitate this. Researchers are also exploring ways to prolong the molecule’s effects, making it more convenient for dosing if it proves effective in regulating human body weight.