One injection was enough for 70 days. The US tested a new approach to obesity drugs
American scientists have developed a method where, after a single injection, the body's cells themselves continuously produce substances similar to popular obesity and diabetes drugs. So far, this approach has only shown effectiveness in studies on mice.
Today, drugs that mimic the action of GLP-1 and GIP hormones, including semaglutide-based preparations (Ozempic, Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro), are effectively used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity. However, these substances quickly break down in the body, so patients have to administer injections weekly or take pills daily. After stopping therapy, weight and glucose levels often worsen again.
Researchers from the American Wistar Institute reported on a method they developed that turns the human body into a "factory" for the sustained production of antibodies.
Instead of administering an already prepared drug, a small circular DNA molecule (plasmid) containing genetic instructions for producing the desired protein is injected into the body. After the injection, a short electrical pulse is used, which helps this DNA enter the cells.
Researchers had previously tested this technology for the sustained production of antibodies against COVID-19. In a phase one clinical trial, participants' bodies continued to produce two types of antibodies for over 72 weeks.
Now, this same technology has been adapted for treating metabolic disorders. Scientists created genetic instructions for long-acting forms of GLP-1 and GIP hormones, supplementing them with an antibody fragment that slows down the breakdown of proteins in the body.
In experiments on mice, a single injection of the new DNA construct was sufficient for up to 70 days. For comparison, Ozempic, Wegovy, and other semaglutide-based drugs need to be injected by patients once a week. That is why researchers believe that their approach could significantly reduce the need for repeated injections.
The researchers did not stop there. They also used structural modeling and artificial intelligence to create another development — a new synthetic molecule called pSynCretin. For this, they combined the structural features of GLP-1 and GIP hormones, as well as existing drugs that act on their receptors, into a single protein. The resulting molecule simultaneously acts on both GLP-1 and GIP receptors. Mounjaro has a similar mechanism of action. In studies on mice, a single administration of pSynCretin also provided sustained weight reduction.
So far, all results have only been obtained in preclinical studies. Clinical trials are necessary to determine if such a method will be safe and effective for humans.
Researchers are now studying whether the prolonged action of GLP-1 and GIP-based drugs can influence not only metabolism but also the immune system, including the outcomes of cancer treatment. According to clinical data, people taking such drugs show improvement in some chronic inflammatory diseases, including arthritis and psoriasis. The authors also suggest that their method of delivering genetic instructions could find application for the sustained production of other therapeutic proteins for various chronic diseases.
Comments