Triple Whammy on Diabetes and Obesity
A new therapeutic approach developed by researchers at Indiana University and the German Research Center for Environmental Medicine cured laboratory animals of obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus, as well as associated disorders of fat metabolism. In addition, it provided a decrease in appetite and an increase in the efficiency of burning calories.
These preclinical experiments were a continuation of the clinical study conducted by the authors, the results of which were published last year. They testified that the peptide, which simultaneously possesses the properties of two endocrine hormones – glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP–1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) - is an effective treatment for type 2 diabetes.
As part of the latest study, the authors developed a new version of a therapeutic peptide, the effects of which were supplemented by the activity of another hormone – glucagon. According to the researchers, the use of this molecule, which is an agonist of three hormones at once, allows for unprecedented results due to simultaneous effects on several mechanisms controlling metabolism in the pancreas, liver, adipose tissue and brain.
Experiments on rodents have demonstrated the ability of a new experimental drug to reduce body weight by 30%. This result is almost twice as good as the results obtained when using the previous version of the drug, which is an agonist of two hormones: glucagon-like peptide-1 and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide.
Currently, Roche, which has a license to use the discoveries made in the framework of this work, is organizing clinical trials of a promising peptide.
Article by Brian Finan et al. A rationally designed monomeric peptide triagonist corrects obesity and diabetes in rodents is published in the journal Nature Medicine.
Evgeniya Ryabtseva
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru based on the materials of Indiana University:
IU's DiMarchi lab sees another success on path to cure adult-onset diabetes, obesity.
15.12.2014