New fat-burning diabetes pill protects muscle and appetite

"Lowering blood sugar and increasing fat burning without reducing appetite or muscle mass is emerging as a promising possibility in the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity. The treatment, which is taken as a tablet, works in a completely different way from well-known GLP-1-based medications such as Ozempic that are given through injections. GLP-1 drugs influence hunger by altering communication between the gut and the brain, and they can cause side effects that include appetite loss, decreased muscle mass, and gastrointestinal discomfort."

"Instead of acting on hunger pathways, the new compound boosts metabolic activity directly within skeletal muscle. In animal studies, it improved blood sugar levels and body composition while avoiding the drawbacks commonly linked to today's GLP-1-based treatments. A phase I clinical trial involving 48 healthy volunteers and 25 individuals with type 2 diabetes indicates that the treatment is also well tolerated in humans."

""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 Tore Bengtsson, professor at the Department of Molecular Bioscience, Wenner-Gren Institute, Stockholm University. The active substance is based on a laboratory-developed molecule, a form of β2 agonist."

A tablet-form β2 agonist specifically targets skeletal muscle metabolism, increasing fat burning and improving blood glucose control without engaging gut-brain appetite pathways. Animal experiments reported improved blood sugar levels and body composition while avoiding appetite loss and muscle wasting seen with GLP-1 drugs. A phase I clinical trial involving 48 healthy volunteers and 25 people with type 2 diabetes found the treatment to be well tolerated. The laboratory-designed molecule activates key signaling pathways in muscle in a way that benefits function while minimizing heart overstimulation typically linked to β2 agonists. The approach preserves muscle mass, which correlates with better metabolic health and longevity.

Read at ScienceDaily