A new study from Johns Hopkins Medicine has found something very surprising.
A drug originally made to treat Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia, and sickle cell disease might also help people lose weight. Even more amazing, people may not need to change their diet or do more exercise to see these benefits.
Obesity is a major health problem around the world. People who are very overweight have a higher risk of getting heart disease, diabetes, and other serious illnesses. Doctors and scientists have been looking for a safe and effective pill to treat obesity, but until now, nothing has worked well.
The researchers studied a special enzyme called PDE9. Enzymes are tiny tools inside the body that help control how cells work. PDE9 helps regulate a molecule known as cyclic GMP. This molecule affects how cells function, including those in the heart and other organs. PDE9 is similar to another enzyme called PDE5, which is targeted by the drug Viagra.
PDE9 inhibitors are still experimental, meaning they are not sold as medicine in stores yet. But scientists have been testing them for different health conditions, such as Alzheimer’s disease and heart problems.
In earlier research from 2015, the same team found that PDE9 exists in the heart and plays a role in heart disease caused by high blood pressure. This gave them the idea to see if blocking PDE9 could also help with other problems linked to obesity.
In the new study, the team tested a PDE9 inhibitor drug called PF-04447943, which was first made by the company Pfizer to treat Alzheimer’s disease. Although the drug didn’t work well for Alzheimer’s, it was found to be safe in tests with more than 100 people. No serious side effects were seen.
The researchers gave the drug to mice that had obesity. The mice were not put on a special diet or exercise plan. Still, after taking the drug, the mice lost weight, had less fat in their liver, and showed better heart function.
If the same thing works in humans, it could be a big help to people who are struggling to lose weight. For example, someone who weighs 250 pounds could possibly lose 50 pounds by just taking the pill.
But this drug may do more than just help with weight loss. It could also make the heart healthier and reduce fat in the liver, both of which are common problems for people who are obese.
Obesity is very common in the United States. Over 40% of adults are obese. For women over 60, the number is even higher—around 43%. Many people have trouble losing weight even when they try hard to eat healthy and exercise. So a drug like this could change lives.
More studies are needed to see if it works the same way in humans. But the early results are exciting. Another similar drug is already being tested in people with heart failure. This shows that PDE9 inhibitors might be helpful for more than one condition.
The study was led by Dr. David Kass and published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation. It gives new hope for people with obesity and other related health issues.
If you care about weight management, please read studies about diets that could boost your gut health and weight loss, and 10 small changes you can make today to prevent weight gain.
For more health information, please see recent studies about low-carb keto diet could manage obesity effectively and results showing popular weight loss diet linked to heart disease and cancer.
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