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Employers who are considering covering obesity prevention medication may have a new option in the future. Researchers at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio have developed a small-molecule drug that prevents weight gain and adverse liver changes in mice fed a high-sugar, high-fat Western diet throughout life.
"When we give this drug to the mice for a short time, they start losing weight," said Madesh Muniswamy. Ph.D., a professor of medicine at the school. "They all become slim."
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Researchers discovered the drug by first exploring how magnesium affects metabolism, which is the production and consumption of energy in cells. This energy fuels the body's processes. Magnesium contributes to good health in several ways, including regulating blood sugar and blood pressure, and building bones. However, too much magnesium slows energy production in mitochondria, which are cells' power plants.
Deleting a gene that promotes magnesium transport into the mitochondria resulted in more-efficient metabolism of sugar and fat. The drug, which the researchers call CPACC, accomplishes the same thing, resulting in skinny, healthy mice. Liver and fat tissues in the rodents showed no evidence of fatty liver disease, a complication related to poor diet, obesity and type 2 diabetes.
However, researchers caution, these results have been seen only in mice. The drug potentially could lead to normal functioning in the liver and the heart in humans if successful. The program is set to receive funding from the National Institutes of Health in coming months, and clinical trials could begin within the next six months to a year."
Related: To cover or not to cover weight loss medications?
"These findings are the result of several years of work," Muniswamy said. "A drug that can reduce the risk of cardiometabolic diseases such as heart attack and stroke, and also reduce the incidence of liver cancer, which can follow fatty liver disease, will make a huge impact. We will continue its development."
Several other obesity drugs currently are available or are expected to be on the market in the near future. Semaglutide, sold under the brand names of Ozempic for diabetes and Wegovy for weight loss, can help individuals lose a significant amount of their body weight. Mounjaro has shown effectiveness in producing larger weight loss results in diabetics and is expected to be approved for obesity soon. Victoza (approved for diabetes) and Saxenda (approved for obesity), also have shown positive results.
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Alan Goforth
Alan Goforth is a freelance writer in suburban Kansas City. In addition to freelancing for several publications, he has written a dozen books about sports and other topics.
