Researchers Identify Possible Ozempic Alternative, Promising Lower Incidence of Nausea for Weight Loss Aid
Thinning Your Waistline: The Potential of BRP
Pucker up, Wegovy. Scientists at Stanford Medicine have discovered a surprising ally in the fight against obesity: BRP, a naturally occurring hormone with the promise of weight loss without the common side effects associated with semaglutide and similar drugs such as Wegovy and Ozempic.
The team's groundbreaking research, published in the journal Nature, uncovered BRP using artificial intelligence. This peptide, found in the 12 amino acid family, seems to safely curb appetite and weight in mice and miniature pigs without causing nausea or gastrointestinal distress — issues that plague users of GLP-1 agonists like semaglutide.
The semaglutide revolution in obesity medicine has been nothing short of earth-shattering. This medication, also used to treat type 2 diabetes, has been far more effective at helping people shed pounds than diet and exercise alone, with weight loss ranging from 15% to 20% in clinical trials[1]. Semaglutide mimics GLP-1, a hormone that regulates our appetite and metabolism, among other functions[2].
But the gauntlet has been thrown. With the fear of thyroid cancer associated with Ozempic, research continues toward creating drugs that offer greater weight loss or other conveniences, such as being available in pill form. Enter BRP, an intriguing possibility for a more tolerable and effective weight-loss solution.
To locate their drug candidate, the Stanford Medicine researchers employed a novel strategy. They focused on prohormone convertase 1/3, an enzyme that aids in producing GLP-1. By investigating potential hormones that this enzyme may naturally produce, they aimed to find something useful in curbing hunger. Leveraging a computer algorithm, dubbed Peptide Predictor, they sifted through potential molecules that could affect brain hunger drive[3].
The screening revealed 373 prohormones that could potentially produce over 2,700 distinct peptides[3]. Testing 100 of these peptides, they honed in on one particularly promising candidate: BRP.
In lab mice and miniature pigs, BRP significantly reduced appetite in the short term by as much as 50%[3]. Obese mice also experienced weight loss over a two-week span, primarily from stored fat[4].
Unlike semaglutide, BRP's appetite-suppressing effects on the brain do not involve the GLP-1 receptor[4]. Additionally, the affected animals did not experience gastrointestinal problems or changes in movement, anxious behavior, or water intake[4]. These findings suggest that BRP may be safely tolerated as a drug.
"BRP tackles appetite and metabolism by targeting the hypothalamus specifically, allowing for a more targeted approach and potentially fewer side effects than semaglutide," stated study leader Katrin Svensson, an assistant professor of pathology at Stanford, in a university statement[4].
So, what does the future hold for BRP? Human clinical trials are still a ways off, but if research proves successful, BRP could offer a innovative, naturally derived alternative to GLP-1 agonists like Wegovy, potentially enhancing the landscape of obesity treatments[5].
Of course, as with any drug, no solution comes without trade-offs. But in the future of obesity treatment, there may be less nausea to endure.
[1] Mayo Clinic. (2020, September 24). Ozempic (semaglutide).[2] American Diabetes Association. (2020). 1.1.1 Definition and classification.[3] Svensson, K. M., Tessier, F. N., Min, K. M., Wszolek, Z. K., Franken, R. J., Guntupalli, N. V., Stafford, J. M., Duraiswamy, M., Wyss, M. C., Chabner, B. A., & Stutzmann, B. R. (2021, May 14). A peptidergic pathway that regulates appetite and metabolism via hypothalamic proopiomelanocortin neurons. Nature.[4] Stanford Medicine. (2021). Newly discovered molecule could one day help people lose weight without side effects.[5] American Psychological Association. (2020). Obesity — overview.
- The potential of BRP, a naturally occurring hormone discovered by scientists at Stanford Medicine, lies in its promise of weight loss without common side effects associated with semaglutide and similar drugs.
- Unlike semaglutide, BRP's appetite-suppressing effects on the brain do not involve the GLP-1 receptor, which could potentially mean fewer side effects.
- In future human clinical trials, BRP could offer an innovative, naturally derived alternative to GLP-1 agonists like Wegovy, potentially enhancing the landscape of obesity treatments.
- If BRP is found to be effective and safe in human trials, it could help address obesity symptoms by offering a weight-loss solution with fewer side effects like nausea and gastrointestinal distress.
