Scientists create weight-loss drug dubbed 'next Ozempic' that's twice as effective and has fewer side effects
Stefania Sarrubba
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Scientists have created a new weight-loss drug dubbed the 'next Ozempic' that's said to be twice as effective and come with fewer side effects compared to the popular drug already on the market.
The new drug can pose an alternative to Ozempic, an injection marketed for people with type 2 diabetes to help them manage their blood sugar levels. Though not primarily a weight-loss medication, Ozempic is used by many in a bid to shed some pounds.
Semaglutide medications like Ozempic were first approved in 2017 by the US Food and Drug Aministration (FDA) to help diabetics.
The drug is administered once every four weeks and is taken once a week, with dosages starting from 0.25mg before increasing each time to the limit of 2mg.
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However, Ozempic comes with side effects, including nausea, muscle loss, and weight regain and even excessive farting.
Now, a new medication developed by scientists at Tufts University promises to be more effective in achieving long-lasting weight loss, boosting it up to 30%, and comes with fewer side effects.
The new medication will be different from current drugs used to lose weight as it will target four different hormones.
While Ozempic and Wegovy mimic the natural hormone GLP‑1 (glucagon‑like peptide‑1) and tirzepatides like Mounjaro target both GLP-1 receptors and GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) receptors, the new med will take things to the next level.
The hormones affected by the new drug aren't just GLP-1 and GIP but also glucagon (the counterpart to insulin) and peptide YY, which reduces hunger, slows stomach emptying and may promote fat-burning.
"We built a single experimental peptide that works like four hormones at once, so we’re not pushing one button too hard," lead author of the Tufts study Tristan Dinsmore, PhD told Fox News Digital.
"Instead, we’re nudging four 'dimmer switches' together to manage appetite, blood sugar and energy use."
Published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, the research shows that scientists intend to rely more on GIP as it's known to help relieve nausea, which can be caused by GLP‑1 and PYY when administered in higher doses.
"Beyond helping with fullness and glucose control, GIP signaling has anti‑nausea effects — it can even block nausea in preclinical models, which is why we prioritize it in the mix," Dinsmore continued.
"By adding PYY to the GLP‑1/GIP/glucagon trio, we hope to rely less on GLP‑1 and glucagon to drive weight loss, potentially lowering the chance of nausea (from GLP‑1/PYY) and high blood sugar risk (from glucagon) while keeping the benefits."
The drug is still in the experimental/preclinical stage and hasn't yet been tested in human trials, which means it may be a while before it hits shelves, if it ever does.