Summary: Scientists have discovered a new drug target that reduces appetite and increases calorie burning without the nausea common to current weight loss medications. The breakthrough could particularly benefit people with both obesity and type 2 diabetes, who often respond poorly to existing treatments.
Journal: Nature, November 13, 2024, DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-08207-0
Reading time: 4 minutes
University of Copenhagen researchers have identified a promising new approach to weight loss medication that could avoid the unpleasant side effects that cause many patients to stop treatment. The discovery targets a receptor that both reduces appetite and increases the body’s ability to burn calories – without triggering nausea or muscle loss.
A Dual Approach to Weight Management
Current weight loss drugs like Wegovy and Mounjaro work by reducing appetite through the hormone GLP-1. While effective for many, these medications often cause nausea and vomiting. They also show limited effectiveness in the estimated 380 million people worldwide who have both obesity and type 2 diabetes.
“While GLP-1-based therapies have revolutionized patient care for obesity and type 2 diabetes, safely harnessing energy expenditure and controlling appetite without nausea remain two Holy Grails in this field,” says Associate Professor Zach Gerhart-Hines from the University of Copenhagen.
The Science Behind the Discovery
The research team focused on the Neurokinin 2 Receptor (NK2R), which genetic screening suggested might play a role in energy balance and glucose control. When activated in mice, NK2R not only reduced appetite but also increased calorie burning without side effects.
Further testing in non-human primates with type 2 diabetes and obesity showed equally promising results. The treatment lowered body weight and improved multiple metabolic markers, including insulin sensitivity, blood sugar, triglycerides, and cholesterol.
“One of the biggest hurdles in drug development is translation between mice and humans,” notes PhD Student Frederike Sass, the study’s first author. “This is why we were excited that the benefits of NK2R agonism translated to diabetic and obese nonhuman primates, which represents a big step towards clinical translation.”
Glossary of Terms
– Incretin hormone: A type of hormone that helps regulate blood sugar levels
– GLP-1: Glucagon-like peptide-1, a hormone that reduces appetite
– NK2R: Neurokinin 2 Receptor, the newly identified drug target
– Agonism: The process of activating a receptor
– Triglycerides: A type of fat found in blood
Test Your Knowledge
1. What are two main advantages of the new drug target over current treatments?
2. How many people globally have both obesity and type 2 diabetes?
3. What is the name of the receptor targeted in this research?
4. What markers improved in non-human primates during testing?
Answers:
1. It increases calorie burning and reduces appetite without causing nausea
2. Approximately 380 million
3. Neurokinin 2 Receptor (NK2R)
4. Insulin sensitivity, blood sugar, triglycerides, and cholesterol
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