Swedish scientists have developed a new pill designed to help the body burn fat. control blood sugar levels in a different way than popular GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic.
Injectable GLP-1 works by suppressing appetite, while this new treatment stimulates muscle metabolism.
The study, led by researchers at Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University, included both initial animal studies and human clinical trials in 48 healthy adults and 25 people with type 2 diabetes, according to a press release.
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of new oral drugs It has successfully controlled blood sugar levels, promoted fat burning, and maintained muscle mass in animals, and has been well-received for its tolerability and safety in humans.
The researchers also noted that it has fewer side effects than GLP-1 drugs like semaglutide and tirzepatide, which are known to cause loss of appetite, gastrointestinal problems, and muscle wasting.
of experimental drug therapy uses a new form of beta-2 agonist that benefits muscle function while avoiding overstimulation of the heart, which has been identified as a potential safety concern with older versions.
The findings were published this week in the journal Cell.
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The new oral drug works by a different mechanism than appetite suppressants, so it could potentially be used alone or in combination with GLP-1, the researchers noted.
“Our results point to the future of improving metabolic health without losing muscle mass,” Professor Torre Bengtsson from the Department of Molecular Biosciences at Stockholm University’s Wenner Gren Institute said in a statement. “Muscle is important in both type 2 diabetes” and obesityAnd muscle mass is also directly correlated to life expectancy. ”
This drug may be “very important” for patients who: type 2 diabetes That and obesity, says Shane C. Wright, assistant professor in the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology at Karolinska Institutet.
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“Our substance seems to promote healthy weight loss Moreover, patients do not need to take any injections,” he added.
Dr. Trey Wickham, interim chief of the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism at VCU Health in Richmond, Virginia, who was not involved in the study, shared his reaction to the publication in the journal Cell.
“This compound’s mechanism of action has the potential to address certain metabolic issues in traditional weight loss therapies, such as the loss of both muscle and adipose tissue,” Wickham told Fox News Digital.
“While the preliminary results reported are interesting, rigorous testing, including larger and longer-term trials, is required to ensure safety in humans. long term safety And understand the potential role of this compound in the comprehensive, evidence-based treatment of obesity and diabetes. ”
The researchers noted that this study had several limitations, primarily: Preclinical research Mice cannot capture the “complex nature of these diseases” in humans.
Structural studies are needed to understand exactly how a drug works.
“While our phase 1 data indicate that Compound 15 is well-tolerated, definitive clinical efficacy data (on how the drug controls glucose metabolism) is still lacking at this time.”
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Looking ahead, Atrogi AB, the company that developed the drug, plans to conduct a larger Phase 2. clinical trial There is a larger and more diverse population, including people who are obese.
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This study was supported in part by the Swedish Research Council, the Swedish Association for Medical Research, and the Novo Nordisk Foundation.
Uppsala University, the University of Copenhagen, Monash University and the University of Queensland all collaborated with the principal investigator.
