Scientists at the University of Copenhagen have discovered a new weight loss drug target that reduces appetite, increases energy expenditure, and improves insulin sensitivity without causing nausea or loss of muscle mass. The discovery was reported in the journal Nature and could lead to a new therapy for millions of people with both obesity and type 2 diabetes who do not respond well to current treatments. Millions of people around the world benefit from weight loss drugs based on the incretin hormone GLP-1.
These drugs also improve kidney function, reduce the risk of fatal cardiac events, and are linked to protection against neurodegeneration. However, many people stop taking the drugs due to common side effects, including nausea and vomiting. Studies also show that incretin-based therapies like Wegovy and Mounjaro are much less effective at lowering weight in people living with both obesity and type 2 diabetes – a group numbering more than 380 million people globally.
In a study published in Nature , scientists from the University of Copenhagen describe a powerful new drug candidate that lowers appetite without loss of muscle mass or side effects like nausea and vomiting. And, unlike the current generation of treatments, the drug also increases the body's energy expenditure – the capacity of the body to burn calories. While GLP-1-based therapies have revolutionized patient care for obesity and type 2 diabetes, safely harnessing energy expenditure and controlling appeti.
