Breakthrough Discovery in Appetite Suppression
Researchers at Stanford Medicine have identified a naturally occurring molecule, BRP, that may offer an alternative to existing weight loss drugs by effectively suppressing appetite and reducing body weight. Unlike semaglutide, commonly known as Ozempic, Bupropion appears to work without causing significant side effects such as nausea, constipation, or muscle mass loss.
BRP functions through a distinct but comparable metabolic pathway and primarily affects neurons in the brain’s hypothalamus, which regulates appetite and metabolism. This targeted action contrasts with semaglutide, which interacts with receptors found not only in the brain but also in the gut, pancreas, and other tissues. According to Dr. Katrin Svensson, an assistant professor of pathology at Stanford, this difference in mechanism may allow BRP to provide the benefits of weight loss without the adverse gastrointestinal effects seen with existing drugs. Svensson has co-founded a company to initiate clinical trials of BRP in humans, hoping to validate its effectiveness and safety.
Artificial Intelligence Accelerates Discovery
The discovery of BRP, a potential addition to Weight Loss Drugs, was made possible through artificial intelligence, which helped researchers analyze a complex class of molecules known as prohormones. Prohormones are inactive molecules that become active when they are broken down into smaller peptides, some of which function as hormones regulating metabolism. Traditional methods of isolating these peptide hormones have been challenging due to their rarity among the numerous byproducts of protein degradation.
To streamline this process, researchers developed a computer algorithm called Peptide Predictor. This tool scanned 20,000 human protein-coding genes, identifying 373 prohormones with the potential to influence metabolism. Among them, BRP emerged as a particularly promising candidate. The research team focused on sequences that were likely to be biologically active in the brain, screening 100 peptides for their ability to activate neuronal cells. One 12-amino-acid peptide, BRP, stood out by significantly increasing neuronal activity, even outperforming the well-known GLP-1 peptide, which is the target of semaglutide.
Successful Trials in Animal Models
In preclinical trials, BRP demonstrated strong appetite-suppressing effects in both lean and obese animal models. When administered to lean mice and minipigs before feeding, BRP reduced food intake by up to 50% within an hour. In obese mice, a 14-day regimen of BRP injections led to an average weight loss of 3 grams, primarily from fat reduction, while untreated mice gained weight during the same period. The animals also showed improved glucose and insulin tolerance, suggesting additional metabolic benefits.
Further behavioral studies indicated no significant changes in movement, water intake, anxiety levels, or digestion, suggesting Weight Loss Drugs’ potential safety. Researchers are now working to identify the cell-surface receptors that BRP binds to and exploring ways to extend its effectiveness in the body for convenient dosing. The development of BRP represents a promising step in the search for effective and well-tolerated obesity treatments, with human trials on the horizon.
