(Press-News.org) Lower blood sugar and increased fat burning – without negatively affecting appetite or muscle mass. These are some of the most promising effects of a new potential drug treatment for people with type 2 diabetes and obesity, according to a new study published in the journal Cell by researchers from Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University.
The new drug, which is taken in tablet form, has a completely different mechanism of action than the well-known GLP-1-based drugs, such as Ozempic, which is administered via injections. GLP-1 drugs affect hunger via signals between the gut and the brain, but often have side effects such as loss of appetite, reduced muscle mass, and gastrointestinal problems.
The new substance instead activates metabolism in skeletal muscle. In animal studies, the treatment has shown good effects on both blood sugar control and body composition, but without the side effects associated with today's GLP-1-based drugs.
An initial phase I clinical trial involving 48 healthy subjects and 25 people with type 2 diabetes shows that humans also tolerate the treatment well.
"Our results point to a future where we can improve metabolic health without losing muscle mass. Muscles are important in both type 2 diabetes and obesity, and muscle mass is also directly correlated with life expectancy," says one of the researchers behind the study, Tore Bengtsson, professor at the Department of Molecular Bioscience, Wenner-Gren Institute, Stockholm University.
The drug substance is based on a molecule—a type of β2 agonist that the researchers have developed in a laboratory. The molecule can activate important signaling pathways in the body in a new way, which has a positive effect on the muscles without overstimulating the heart, which is a known problem with β2 agonists.
“This drug represents a completely new type of treatment and has the potential to be of great importance for patients with type 2 diabetes and obesity. Our substance appears to promote healthy weight loss and, in addition, patients do not have to take injections," says Shane C. Wright, assistant professor at the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology at Karolinska Institutet, who is one of the researchers behind the study.
This new type of drug not only works on its own, but can also work in combination with GLP-1, thanks to their different mechanisms of action.
“This makes them valuable both as a stand-alone treatment and in combination with GLP-1 drugs,” says Shane C. Wright.
The next step is a larger, clinical phase II study planned by Atrogi AB, the company developing the treatment. The aim of the study is to see whether the same positive effects seen in preclinical models also occur in people with type 2 diabetes or obesity.
The study is the result of close collaboration with Professor Volker M. Lauschke and other researchers at Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm University, and Uppsala University in Sweden, the University of Copenhagen in Denmark, and Monash University and the University of Queensland in Australia. The research was funded by the Swedish Research Council, the Swedish Society for Medical Research, and the Novo Nordisk Foundation, among others.
Several of the article's authors are employed by and/or own shares in Atrogi AB, which funded the clinical trial. Tore Bengtsson is the founder and chief scientific officer at Atrogi AB, which is further developing the drug candidate, and has, together with a co-author, applied for patents for the substances investigated in the study. Several other company connections are reported; see the study for more detailed information.
Publication: “GRK-biased adrenergic agonists for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity,” Aikaterini Motso, Benjamin Pelcman, Anastasia Kalinovich, Nour Aldin Kahlous, Muhammad Hamza Bokhari, Nodi Dehvari, Carina Halleskog, Erik Waara, Jasper de Jong, Elizabeth Cheesman, Christine Kallenberg, Gopala Krishna Yakala, Praerona Murad, Erika Wetterdal, Pia Andersson, Sten van Beek, Anna Sandström, Diane Natacha Alleluia, Emanuela Talamonti, Sonia Youhanna, Pierre Sabatier, Claire Koenig, Sabine Willems, Aurino M. Kemas, Dana S. Hutchinson, Seungmin Ham, Lukas Grätz, Jan Voss, Jose G. Marchan-Alvarez, Martins Priede, Krista Jaunsleine, Jana Spura, Vadims Kovada, Linda Supe, Leigh A. Stoddart, Nicholas D. Holliday, Phillip T. Newton, Nicolas J. Pillon, Gunnar Schulte, Roger J. Summers, Ilga Mutule, Edgars Suna, Jesper V. Olsen, Peter Molenaar, Jens Carlsson, Volker M. Lauschke, Shane C. Wright & Tore Bengtsson, Cell, online June 23, 2025, doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2025.05.042
END
New drug for diabetes and obesity shows promising results
2025-06-23
ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:
Role of sleep and white matter in the link between screen time and depression in childhood and early adolescence
2025-06-23
About The Study: The results of this study show that more screen time in late childhood was associated with more depressive symptoms, potentially due to shorter sleep and worse white matter organization during early adolescence. These findings emphasize the importance of promoting healthy habits and balancing screen time with adequate sleep.
Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, João Paulo Lima Santos, MD, email limasantosjp2@upmc.edu.
To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/
(doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2025.1718)
Editor’s ...
U.S. neonatal mortality from perinatal causes
2025-06-23
About The Study: U.S. neonatal mortality has generally decreased, likely due to medical advancements, improved prenatal care, and neonatal intensive care interventions. However, mortality from slow fetal growth and malnutrition has increased by nearly 2% annually, possibly reflecting impaired prenatal nutrition.
Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, Muzamil Khan, MD, email muzamilkhan1411@gmail.com.
To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/
(doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2025.1710)
Editor’s ...
Discovery suggests new avenue for repairing brain function
2025-06-23
For the first time, scientists using cryo-electron microscopy have discovered the structure and shape of key receptors connecting neurons in the brain’s cerebellum, which is located behind the brainstem and plays a critical role in functions such as coordinating movement, balance and cognition.
The research, published today in the journal Nature, provides new insight that could lead to the development of therapies to repair these structures when they are disrupted either by injury or genetic mutations affecting motor skills -- sitting, standing, walking, running, and jumping -- learning and memory.
The discovery by scientists at Oregon Health ...
Teen depression? Study finds clues in screen use and sleep quality
2025-06-23
PITTSBURGH, June 23, 2025 – In this digital era, both kids and adults are often glued to smartphone screens. Digital technology keeps users entertained, connected to friends, and in tune with important news. But some reports suggest that, particularly for adolescents, excessive time on these screens can be linked to mental health problems and even depression.
New research from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine published today in JAMA Pediatrics suggests that that association is driven by shorter ...
Alzheimer’s protective mutation works by taming inflammation in the brain
2025-06-23
A rare gene mutation that delays Alzheimer’s disease does so by damping inflammatory signaling in brain-resident immune cells, according to a preclinical study led by investigators at Weill Cornell Medicine. The finding adds to growing evidence that brain inflammation is a major driver of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s—and that it may be a key therapeutic target for these disorders.
In the study, published June 23 in Immunity, the researchers examined the effects of the mutation APOE3-R136S—known as the “Christchurch ...
Research alert: CBD might help children with autism, but more research needed
2025-06-23
Researchers at the Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research at University of California San Diego School of Medicine have found that cannabidiol (CBD), a non-intoxicating compound found in cannabis, could help reduce problematic behaviors in autistic boys. The results provide valuable insights into the potential benefits and limitations of CBD as a therapeutic intervention for autism.
Autism spectrum disorder is a complex neurodevelopmental condition characterized by social communication difficulties, repetitive behaviors ...
Unveiling cutting-edge advances in CAR-T cell therapy for lymphoma
2025-06-23
CAR-T cells, which are genetically programmed to specifically recognize and kill target cells, have altered the therapeutic landscape of lymphoma. After the tumor antigens are identified by scFv, CAR-T cells execute anti-tumor activity through granzyme and perforin secretion, inducing cell apoptosis in a Fas-FasL-dependent pathway and producing inflammatory cytokines to antagonize the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironments (TME) and induce host immune responses. However, CAR-T cell therapy still faces many challenges owing to the heterogeneity of tumor cells, interference from TME, T cell exhaustion, as well as severe adverse events. Recent years, advances in tumor ...
Aggressiveness responses in mice depend on the instigator
2025-06-23
Tsukuba, Japan—Displaced aggression, such as lashing out at an unrelated individual after a frustrating experience, is a well-documented phenomenon in both humans and animals. In mice, males typically attack unfamiliar, potentially rival males that enter their territory. However, when the rival was placed inside a transparent enclosure, physical contact was blocked despite visual and olfactory access. This situation increased arousal in the subject—a phenomenon known as "social instigation"—which primed the animal for heightened aggression. When subsequently presented with access to a different rival, the subject exhibited significantly ...
The research team led by Professor Jichuan Kang has elucidated the regulatory mechanism of AICAR biosynthesis in endophytic Fusarium solani.
2025-06-23
1. Prediction of key genes in the AICAR biosynthetic pathway of endophytic Fusarium solani
Previous study showed that overexpression of the global regulator VeA mediated a significant increase in the antitumor activity of F. solani, with a marked enrichment of differential metabolites including AICAR. To elucidate the molecular regulatory mechanism by which veAOE14 contributed to the increased synthesis of AICAR, we obtained the predicted synthetic pathway of AICAR in F. solani by analyzing the veAOE14 transcriptome and metabolome data, with a total of 10 steps in the major synthetic reactions. Based on the previous findings and predicted ...
Low FODMAP diet can ease GI symptoms of those with endometriosis: Study
2025-06-23
A low FODMAP diet developed by Monash University researchers for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) has been shown to improve gastrointestinal symptoms in women with endometriosis.
Sixty percent of study participants responded to the Low FODMAP Diet (LFD), compared to 26 per cent who responded to a control diet based on Australian Dietary Guidelines.
The majority of those on the LFD experienced a clinically significant improvement in gastrointestinal symptoms, and overall symptom severity was 40 per cent lower on the LFD than on the control diet.
Published in Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics, researchers found that the LFD also eased abdominal pain and bloating, and normalised ...