Scientists in Sweden have developed a new pill that could help treat type 2 diabetes and obesity in a completely different way than current medicines.
This exciting research was published in the scientific journal Cell by researchers from Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University.
The new treatment stands out because it lowers blood sugar and helps the body burn fat without causing a loss of appetite or muscle mass. This is important because most popular diabetes and weight-loss drugs, like Ozempic, work by reducing hunger.
Those drugs are taken by injection and often cause side effects such as nausea, stomach problems, and even loss of muscle.
What makes this new drug different is that it doesn’t affect the brain or appetite. Instead, it works directly on the muscles. Muscles play a key role in controlling blood sugar and burning calories, so improving how muscles work can lead to better health.
In animal studies, the treatment helped improve blood sugar control and body fat without the usual side effects seen with older drugs.
The research team also ran a small human trial. This phase I clinical trial included 48 healthy people and 25 people with type 2 diabetes. The results showed that the pill was safe and well-tolerated in humans, which is an important step before larger studies can be done.
Professor Tore Bengtsson from Stockholm University, one of the lead researchers, explained that muscle mass is not only important for managing diabetes and obesity but is also linked to how long people live. Losing muscle is common with some diabetes drugs, so a treatment that avoids that problem is a big breakthrough.
The new drug is based on a molecule known as a β2 agonist. These types of molecules are known to affect muscles and the lungs.
However, older versions of these drugs could overstimulate the heart. The scientists behind this new treatment redesigned the molecule to keep it safe. Their version helps the muscles work better without putting stress on the heart.
Dr. Shane Wright, a researcher at Karolinska Institutet, said that the new treatment could be very helpful for people with diabetes and obesity. He added that because it works in a different way than current drugs like GLP-1 injections, it could be used by itself or together with other treatments. This could give doctors and patients more choices and better results.
The next step is a larger phase II clinical trial. This will test whether the same benefits can be seen in more people with type 2 diabetes or obesity. The company Atrogi AB, which is developing the drug, is leading this next phase of research.
This work is the result of a large collaboration between several universities including Uppsala University, the University of Copenhagen, Monash University in Australia, and the University of Queensland. It was funded by multiple organizations, including the Swedish Research Council and the Novo Nordisk Foundation.
Some of the researchers involved in the study work for or own shares in the company Atrogi AB. One of the lead scientists, Tore Bengtsson, founded the company and is also applying for patents related to this new drug. These connections are fully explained in the published study.
In summary, this new pill could be a game-changer in the way we treat diabetes and obesity. Unlike many current medications that work by reducing appetite, this drug works by helping the muscles burn more energy and control sugar better. It may offer a safer, easier, and more effective way to improve health for millions of people living with these conditions.
If you care about diabetes, please read studies about Vitamin D and type 2 diabetes, and what you need to know about avocado and type 2 diabetes.
For more information about diabetes, please see recent studies about how to eat to prevent type 2 diabetes, and 5 vitamins that may prevent complication in diabetes.
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