Stanford, California – A groundbreaking discovery has been made by scientists at Stanford University involving a naturally-occurring molecule that shows promise in appetite control and weight loss. This molecule, known as BRP (BRINP2-related peptide), has the potential to rival popular GLP-1 agonists like Ozempic due to its unique mechanism of action.
Led by pathology researcher Laetitia Coassolo, the team at Stanford utilized an AI-based drug discovery program called ‘Peptide Predictor’ to sift through thousands of proteins and identify 373 for further investigation. Through this process, they discovered a 12-amino-acid molecule called BRP that activates specific neurons in the brain, similar to GLP-1 agonists, but through a different metabolic pathway.
In animal studies involving lean, male mice and minipigs, injecting BRP resulted in a significant reduction in food intake without causing nausea or food aversion. Furthermore, obese mice that received BRP injections over a two-week period experienced an average weight loss of 4 grams, primarily from body fat.
Unlike current GLP-1 agonists like Semaglutide, which can lead to muscle and bone loss, BRP showed no signs of these adverse effects in animal testing. This is believed to be due to the molecule targeting different brain receptors, specifically in the hypothalamus, the brain’s center for appetite and metabolism regulation.
The potential of BRP as a weight loss drug is significant, especially considering the increasing prevalence of obesity. If proven safe and effective in human trials, BRP could join the ranks of peptide-based weight loss drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Tirzepatide in the fight against obesity. With the obesity epidemic projected to worsen in the coming years, the need for effective treatments is more pressing than ever.
Research findings on BRP have been published in the prestigious journal Nature, signaling a promising future for this novel molecule in the field of weight loss management. As clinical trials continue to evaluate BRP’s efficacy and safety in humans, researchers are hopeful that this discovery could revolutionize the way obesity is treated in the future.