A new study from Johns Hopkins Medicine has found that a drug originally developed for Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia, and sickle cell disease could also help with obesity and related health problems. What’s even more surprising is that the drug worked without requiring any changes in diet or exercise.
A New Approach to Obesity Treatment
Obesity is a major global health issue, increasing the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Despite many available weight-loss treatments, there is no pill proven to effectively treat severe obesity. The findings from this study could be a big step toward solving this problem.
Researchers focused on an enzyme called PDE9, which affects a molecule known as cyclic GMP. This molecule is important for many cell functions. PDE9 is similar to PDE5, the enzyme targeted by Viagra.
PDE9 inhibitors are still experimental, meaning they don’t yet have commercial names. However, they have been tested for conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease and heart failure.
How the Drug Works
In 2015, the same research team found that PDE9 is present in the heart and plays a role in heart disease caused by high blood pressure. This led them to wonder if blocking PDE9 could help with other conditions related to metabolic syndrome, including obesity, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and high cholesterol.
To test this idea, the researchers used a PDE9 inhibitor developed by Pfizer called PF-04447943. This drug was originally meant to treat Alzheimer’s but was later abandoned for that purpose. However, it had already been tested in human trials with over 100 participants and was found to be safe, with no major side effects.
Promising Results in Mice
When given to mice, the drug led to significant weight loss, reduced fatty liver, and improved heart function—all without changing their diet or activity levels.
If these results translate to humans, the effects could be dramatic. For example, a 250-pound person might lose around 50 pounds just by taking the drug.
More Than Just Weight Loss
Beyond shedding extra weight, the drug’s ability to improve heart health and liver function means it could also help treat conditions linked to obesity, such as diabetes and heart disease.
With over 40% of adults in the U.S. classified as obese, and rates even higher among older adults, finding effective treatments is urgent. Many people struggle to lose weight through diet and exercise alone, making new medical options essential.
What’s Next?
While these results are promising, more human studies are needed to confirm the drug’s effectiveness. However, a different PDE9 inhibitor is already being tested in clinical trials for heart failure, adding to the evidence that this class of drugs could be useful for multiple health conditions.
The study, led by Dr. David Kass, was published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation. It offers new hope for tackling obesity and its serious health risks, potentially improving the lives of millions.
If you care about weight loss, please read studies that hop extract could reduce belly fat in overweight people, and early time-restricted eating could help lose weight.
For more health information, please see recent studies about a simple path to weight loss, and results showing a non-invasive treatment for obesity and diabetes.
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