Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of Ozempic, developed a compound It has been shown to be a one-two punch in appetite suppression and weight loss in mice.
Ozempic promotes weight loss by mimicking the GLP-1 hormone that the body naturally produces after eating, so users feel fuller for longer. This new potential treatment harnesses the power of GLP-1 while activating receptors for leptin, a hormone released by fat cells, that tells you when you should stop eating because you have enough energy stored. It sends a signal to the brain that this is the case.
“Leptin promotes weight loss when used in combination with other weight loss agents such as: [GLP-1 drugs]” the Novo Nordisk and University of Michigan team said in a paper published Wednesday. Published in Science Translational Medicine. “This observation suggests that using leptin as part of a combination therapy is a potential approach to more effective obesity treatment.”
In developing the daily injection, researchers built on the following knowledge: mouse neuron The brain responds to GLP-1 and leptin signals. They found similar neurons in rhesus macaques.
Researchers said they have not yet determined whether humans have the same neurons that can be targeted with this treatment to reduce food intake and weight.
“The purpose of this paper is not to determine the feasibility of this approach in humans.” randy seeleyProfessor of Surgery, Internal Medicine, and Nutritional Sciences at the University of Michigan Medical School told the Post.
“Rather, the goal here was to demonstrate that this type of molecule can cause weight loss in mice where leptin alone does not cause weight loss,” Seeley added. “We also worked to prove that both the leptin and GLP-1 parts of the molecule are essential for weight loss.”
Seeley said the team’s paper “sets the standard for how the scientific community should explore the mechanisms” of this dual approach.
The research is as follows KFF Health Tracking Poll for May In this study, 12% of adults reported taking a GLP-1 drug at some point. 6% said they currently use it.
A variety of GLP-1 drugs are commercially available to treat obesity or type 2 diabetes. Ozempic and Wegovy contain semaglutide, Zepbound and Mounjaro contain tirzepatide, and Victoza contains liraglutide.
These drugs differ in their dosing schedules and weight loss effects. Novo Nordisk is also developing the weight-loss drug Amicretin, which in a Phase 1 trial produced 13.1% weight loss over 12 weeks in overweight or obese people.