Injection for weight loss
Antibody injection reduced weight in obese people
American scientists have developed an experimental drug – a specific antibody, a single injection of which improves metabolism and reduces weight. The results of the study are published in the journal PNAS (Baruch et al., Antibody-mediated activation of the FGFR1/Klothoß complex corrects metabolic dysfunction and alters food preference in obese humans).
Fibroblast growth factors (FGF) are multifunctional proteins that play a key role in the processes of proliferation and differentiation of a wide range of cells and tissues. One of them, the hormone FGF21, which is produced in adipose tissue cells and the pancreas, regulates metabolism, energy consumption and eating behavior.
Previously, scientists have experimentally proved that regular administration of FGF21 or its modified variants improves metabolic processes in rodents, non-human primates and humans, which makes it possible to effectively and safely reduce weight. However, the rapid elimination of these proteins from the body requires frequent dosing, which reduces their therapeutic value.
American scientists led by Puneet Arora have proposed using a long-acting antibody BFKB8488A to combat obesity. FGF21 is known to control metabolic homeostasis of organs through FGFR1/KLB receptor complexes.
In studies on Cynomolgus monkeys (crab-eating macaques) and humans, the authors demonstrated that the BFKB8488A antibody mimics the effect of FGF21 and activates this receptor, that is, it works as an agonist.
The scientists tested the effect of the antibody on humans in a randomized, blind, placebo-controlled phase 1 clinical trial in which 60 overweight or obese people participated.
The results showed that a single subcutaneous injection of BFKB8488A leads to an improvement in metabolism, which lasts up to 60 days. With the same standardized diet of calorie-balanced food, the participants who received the antibody during the study period, the authors recorded a weight loss of 1.20 kilograms compared to 0.28 kilograms in the placebo group.
These participants noted the rejection of sweet foods, a week after the injection, their cardiometabolic parameters improved, their carbohydrate intake dropped, reaching a minimum value – 50 percent of the initial level – between 15 and 22 days.
The authors note that in order to develop more specific recommendations, it is necessary to continue clinical trials, but it is already clear that the BFKB8488A antibody is able to correct metabolic dysfunction in obese people and change their eating behavior.
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