Obesity is a growing health problem all over the world. It increases the risk of many serious diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, and liver problems.
Although many people struggle with obesity, there are still no simple pills that work well for treating severe obesity.
But researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine may have found a new solution. They discovered that a drug originally designed for other conditions—like Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia, and sickle cell disease—might also help people lose weight, reduce liver fat, and improve heart health.
This drug targets an enzyme in the body called PDE9. Enzymes are proteins that help control many processes in the body. In earlier studies from 2015, the same research team showed that PDE9 is active in the heart and can cause heart problems, especially when blood pressure is high.
In the new study, researchers gave the PDE9-blocking drug to mice that were obese. The drug helped the mice lose weight, reduced fat in their livers, and made their hearts work better. What’s even more surprising is that these improvements happened without any changes in the mice’s diet or exercise routines.
The drug used in this study is called PF-04447943. It was originally developed by the company Pfizer to treat Alzheimer’s disease.
While it didn’t work well for that purpose, it was found to be safe in human trials, with more than 100 people taking it without major side effects. Although it was abandoned for Alzheimer’s, scientists are now testing a different PDE9 drug for heart failure in people.
This new research raises an exciting possibility: could the same type of drug also help treat obesity in humans?
The researchers found that blocking the PDE9 enzyme may improve how the body handles blood sugar, cholesterol, and fats. It also seems to help reduce extra fat stored around the waist—one of the most dangerous places to carry weight when it comes to heart health.
Obesity is a huge issue in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 40% of Americans are obese. Among women over 60, that number climbs to 43%. A drug that could help people lose weight without major changes to their lifestyle could make a big difference.
For example, if the same results seen in mice apply to humans, someone who weighs 250 pounds could potentially lose around 50 pounds just by taking a pill. That would be a major breakthrough in weight management.
The study was led by Dr. David Kass and published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation. It also challenges the common belief that overeating is the main cause of obesity. The research suggests that changes in how the body processes and stores energy may be just as important.
Of course, more research is needed. Scientists need to test these drugs in people to make sure they work and are safe. But if future studies are successful, PDE9 inhibitors could become a powerful new tool in the fight against obesity and related health problems.
This discovery offers new hope for millions of people who are trying to lose weight and stay healthy.
Copyright © 2025 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
