Scientists have stumbled upon a naturally-occurring molecule, BRP (BRINP2-related peptide), that could potentially rival the well-known GLP-1 agonists like Ozempic in controlling appetite and promoting weight loss. This tiny peptide, composed of just 12 amino acids, functions by stimulating specific neurons in the brain, but it takes a different metabolic route compared to GLP-1 agonists.
Laetitia Coassolo, a pathology researcher at Stanford University, spearheaded a team that developed an AI-powered drug discovery tool called ‘Peptide Predictor’. This tool identified 373 proteins to explore from a vast sea of possibilities. After screening 100 peptides for their ability to influence brain activity, they zeroed in on BRP.
In laboratory tests, BRP surpassed the performance of traditional GLP-1 peptides, enhancing activity in both neuronal and insulin-producing cells over tenfold. When injected into lean male mice, BRP cut their food intake in half within just an hour, a result paralleled in minipigs, whose metabolic patterns closely resemble those of humans.
During a two-week experiment with obese mice, BRP injections led to an average weight loss of 4 grams, attributed mainly to a reduction in body fat. Unlike semaglutide treatments, which may cause muscle and bone loss, BRP showed no adverse effects like nausea or constipation during animal trials. This might be because it engages different brain receptors.
Stanford researcher Katrin Svensson notes, “Semaglutide engages receptors in both the brain and other organs, causing widespread effects like slowed digestion and decreased blood sugar levels.” Conversely, BRP appears to exclusively target the hypothalamus, the area of the brain that governs appetite and metabolism.
Svensson’s company will soon embark on clinical trials to understand how BRP performs in humans. If it proves to be both safe and effective, it could join the fierce competition among peptide-based weight loss drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Tirzepatide. Svensson concludes, “Obesity treatment has long sought effective solutions. We’re eager to see if BRP can rise to the occasion.”
Vocabulary List:
- Molecule /ˈmɒlɪˌkjuːl/ (noun): The smallest particle in a chemical element or compound that has the properties of that element or compound.
- Peptide /ˈpɛp.taɪd/ (noun): A compound of two or more amino acids linked in a chain.
- Stimulating /ˈstɪm.jʊ.leɪ.tɪŋ/ (adjective): Causing an increase in activity or excitement; encouraging a response.
- Agonists /ˈæɡənɪsts/ (noun): Substances that activate a receptor to produce a biological response.
- Adverse /ædˈvɜrs/ (adjective): Preventing success or development; harmful or unfavorable.
- Metabolism /məˈtæb.ə.lɪ.zəm/ (noun): The chemical processes that occur within a living organism in order to maintain life.
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