GLP-1 drugs have helped many patients lose weight in recent years, primarily by modulating nerve signals between the gut and brain to reduce hunger. However, their use often leads to loss of appetite, decreased muscle mass, and digestive problems, in addition to requiring weekly injections.
But the new compound offers a different approach, as it works directly to activate metabolism within the muscles rather than affecting appetite, which may allow for healthier weight loss and preserve muscle mass.
Previous animal trials have shown improvements in blood sugar levels and body composition in treated animals, without the defects associated with GLP-1 drugs.
A new human study supports these findings, after the compound was shown to be well tolerated in 48 healthy volunteers and 25 with type 2 diabetes.
Tori Bengtsson, a molecular biologist at Stockholm University and one of the study's authors, said the results "suggest the possibility of improving metabolic health without affecting muscle mass," emphasizing the importance of maintaining muscle mass due to its link to life expectancy and overall health.
The compound is based on a laboratory-developed molecule that targets receptors in smooth muscles distributed throughout the body (found in internal organs and characterized by being involuntary; that is, they work automatically without direct human control).
Researchers believe the drug improves muscle function without causing excessive stimulation of the heart muscle.
Shane C. Wright, from the Karolinska Institute, described this treatment as "an entirely new class of drugs" that could be of great importance to patients with obesity and diabetes, noting that the compound "promotes healthy weight loss and does not require the use of injections."
Because its mechanism of action differs from that of GLP-1 drugs, the new compound can be used alone or in combination with them, giving it greater therapeutic flexibility.
Researchers hope that a larger phase 2 clinical trial will reveal the drug's ability to achieve the same results in people with obesity or type 2 diabetes.
The study was published in the journal Cell.
