Summary of New Obesity Treatment Delivers Dramatic Weight Loss – Benefits of Gastric Bypass Without Surgery:
A new class of injectable compounds that offer the benefits of gastric bypass surgery without invasive procedures has been developed. These compounds reduce weight, lower blood glucose levels, and boost calorie burn without the common side effects of nausea and vomiting associated with current weight-loss and diabetes drugs. These potential treatments replicate the long-term benefits of surgery by interacting with more than one type of gut hormone receptor, unlike current drugs that only activate cellular receptors for GLP-1 in the pancreas and brain. Tests with these compounds in rats and shrews revealed no sign of nausea or vomiting. The researchers have filed for patents on their combinations and plan to test their peptides in primates.
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A new solution for obesity and diabetes
Obesity and diabetes are considered pandemics, and they are expected to worsen rather than improve in the coming years, according to scientists. Although gastric bypass surgery is one of the proven methods to address these issues, it is not always feasible due to risks and inaccessibility. Researchers are, therefore, exploring pharmaceutical alternatives that mimic the beneficial effects of surgery. A new class of compounds that can be injected with fewer side effects is the most promising option to date.
The science behind the new class of compounds
Existing drugs that target the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor mainly activate pancreatic and brain cells. However, these drugs cause unpleasant side effects like nausea and vomiting that most people cannot tolerate for over a year. Scientists from Syracuse University and SUNY Upstate Medical University designed a peptide known as GEP44, which activates two receptors for PYY and one for GLP-1. In a test on obese rats, the new compound caused them to reduce their food intake by up to 80%, and after 16 days, they lost an average of 12% of their weight. This was three times the amount of weight lost by rats treated with liraglutide, an FDA-approved injected drug that activates only the GLP-1 receptor. GEP44 showed no signs of nausea or vomiting, unlike liraglutide, due to its ability to interact with multiple receptors with different signaling pathways.
New findings on the benefits of peptides
Further research on GEP44 revealed that the weight loss caused by the peptide doesn’t only stem from decreased eating but also higher energy expenditure, leading to increased movement, heart rate, and body temperature. According to researchers, rats treated with the next-generation compound maintain their weight loss even after treatment ends, contrary to approved drugs. The new combination has a short half-life, but researchers have designed a new peptide with a more extended half-life that requires fewer doses. In addition to weight loss, the peptides reduce blood sugar by pulling glucose into muscle tissue, which can be used as fuel and converting certain cells in the pancreas into insulin-producing cells. Researchers are also investigating whether the peptides could help opioid addicts quit illicit drugs or avoid relapse.
The road ahead
The research team has filed patents for their compounds and plans to test the peptides on primates. They also intend to study how their treatment affects gene expression and rewires the brain and whether there are implications for using other drugs. The researchers believe their peptides could separate weight loss from nausea and vomiting, leading to better chemotherapy outcomes without compromising a patient’s quality of life. As such, this new class of compounds has exciting prospects for addressing obesity and diabetes, offering an effective alternative to surgical interventions.
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