Medication for obesity similar to Ozempic bypasses neurons, thereby minimizing symptoms like nausea and vomiting.
In a groundbreaking discovery, researchers at Syracuse University, led by Professor Robert Doyle, have identified a novel approach to weight loss that targets support cells in the brain rather than neurons, as is the case with current GLP-1 drugs.
The team's findings, published in the journal Science Translational Medicine, reveal a brain-produced molecule called octadecaneuropeptide (ODN) that suppresses appetite and improves glucose regulation in animal studies without causing nausea or vomiting, common side effects of existing GLP-1 therapies.
The study, a collaboration with scientists from the University of Pennsylvania and University of Kentucky, showed that a modified version of ODN, called tridecaneuropeptide (TDN), induced weight loss in mice, rats, and musk shrews. This discovery offers a promising path toward safer, more tolerable anti-obesity drugs.
The research indicates that targeting the glia-to-neuron signaling axis in the dorsal vagal complex—a brainstem area—can reduce hunger and enhance metabolic outcomes in obese animals. This new pathway targets support cells in the hindbrain, specifically glia and astrocytes.
The team has licensed intellectual property related to ODN derivatives from Syracuse University and the University of Pennsylvania to CoronationBio, a new company launched to bring this discovery to patients. CoronationBio is now collaborating with other firms to develop TDN-based treatments.
While promising, human trials for TDN-based treatments are yet to begin, with potential trials starting as early as 2026 or 2027. The translation of this research to human therapies remains to be further developed.
The researchers' ultimate goal is to develop a safer alternative to current weight loss and diabetes drugs, which struggle to deliver lasting results and have high dropout rates due to side effects like nausea and vomiting. By bypassing the usual cascade of reactions and going directly to the point in the pathway where appetite suppression naturally occurs, they hope to avoid the need for GLP-1 drugs and their associated side effects.
This new approach represents a significant step forward in the fight against obesity and metabolic diseases, offering hope for a safer, more effective treatment option in the future.
- This groundbreaking discovery in science, surrounds the identification of a novel approach for weight loss, which bypasses neurons and targets support cells in the brain, an innovation that could potentially change the landscape of health-and-wellness, especially in the realm of nutrition and weight-management.
- The research reveals a brain-produced molecule, octadecaneuropeptide (ODN), that not only suppresses appetite but also improves glucose regulation, showcasing a new pathway in science that could pave the way for safer, more tolerable anti-obesity drugs in future.
- The team's ultimate goal is to develop a safer alternative to current weight loss and diabetes drugs, using their discovery to create treatments that deliver lasting results and have low dropout rates, due to the absence of nausea and vomiting, all of which are significant advancements in health-and-wellness, nutrition, and weight-management.
