A team of researchers from Tufts University in Massachusetts has developed an experimental weight-loss drug that is more than twice as effective as drugs like Ozempic, with fewer side effects.
A new weight loss drug that is more effective than "Ozempic" and has fewer side effects.
Researchers hope to mimic the results of bariatric surgery without major surgical intervention.
The new drug belongs to a class of injectable GLP-1 medications, which mimic the hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) to regulate appetite and metabolism. This new version differs from existing medications in that it targets four hormones simultaneously: GLP-1, GIP, glucagon, and peptide YY (PYY).
This combination works by: increasing insulin secretion and slowing down stomach emptying to prolong the feeling of satiety and affecting the satiety centers in the brain, in addition to directly promoting fat burning.
According to Tristan Densmore, a researcher at Tufts University: "We have developed a single peptide that acts as four hormones at once, helping to balance appetite control, blood sugar, and energy consumption."
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Compared to current treatments and surgery
Drugs such as "Ozempic" and "Wegovi" have a weight loss effectiveness ranging between 10%-15%.
Drugs such as "Zebound" and "Mongaro" achieve 15%-21%.
The results of bariatric surgery reach 25%-35%, but it carries surgical risks such as bleeding, leaks, infections, and long-term malnutrition, and its cost may exceed $10,000.
The new drug is still under development and has not yet been tested on humans, but it may achieve effective and sustainable weight loss with better tolerability compared to current treatments, according to a report published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.
