New diabetes pill alternative to Ozempic burns fat without losing muscle mass, study suggests

Scientists in Sweden have created a new pill designed to help the body burn fat and control blood sugar in a different way to popular GLP-1 medications, such as Ozempic.

While injectable GLP-1 acts by suppressing appetite, this new treatment stimulates metabolism in the muscles.

A study led by researchers at Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University included both an initial animal study and a human clinical trial with 48 healthy adults and 25 people with type 2 diabetes, according to a press release.

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The new oral medication was found to successfully control blood glucose, stimulate fat burning and retain muscle mass in animals, while earning high marks for tolerability and safety in humans.

It was also found to have fewer side effects than GLP-1s, such as semaglutides and tirzepatides, which are known to cause loss of appetite, gastrointestinal upset and muscle atrophy, the researchers noted.

The experimental drug uses a new form of beta-2 agonist that benefits muscle function while preventing overstimulation of the heart, which has been identified as a potential safety issue with previous versions.

The findings were published this week in the journal Cell.

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Because the new oral drug acts through a different mechanism than appetite suppressant medications, it could be used alone or in combination with GLP-1, the researchers noted.

“Our results point to a future in which we can improve metabolic health without losing muscle mass,” Tore Bengtsson, professor in the Department of Molecular Bioscience at the Wenner-Gren Institute at Stockholm University, said in the release. “Muscles are important in both type 2 diabetes and obesity, and muscle mass is also directly related to life expectancy.”

This drug has the potential to be of “great importance” for patients with type 2 diabetes and obesity, according to Shane C. Wright, assistant professor in the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology at the Karolinska Institutet.

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“Our substance appears to promote healthy weight loss and, furthermore, patients do not need to inject themselves,” he added.

Dr. Trey Wickham, interim chief of the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism at VCU Health in Richmond, Virginia, was not involved in the study but shared his reaction to the publication in the journal Cell.

“Our results point to a future in which we can improve metabolic health without losing muscle mass.”

“The mechanism of action of this compound could address some metabolic problems specific to previous weight loss therapies, such as loss of muscle and fat tissue,” Wickham told News Digital.

“Although the reported preliminary results are interesting, rigorous testing including larger longitudinal trials is needed to ensure long-term human safety and understand the potential role of this compound in the comprehensive, evidence-based treatment of obesity and diabetes.”

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The researchers noted that the study had some limitations, primarily that preclinical studies in mice fail to capture the “complex nature of these diseases” in humans.

Structural studies are needed to understand exactly how the drug works.

“Our phase 1 data show that compound 15 is well tolerated; however, conclusive data on clinical efficacy (on how the drug controls glucose metabolism) are still lacking.”

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Looking ahead, the company that developed the drug, Atrogi AB, plans to conduct a larger Phase 2 clinical trial with a larger and more diverse population, including people with obesity.

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The study was partly funded by the Swedish Research Council, the Swedish Medical Research Society and the Novo Nordisk Foundation.

Uppsala University, the University of Copenhagen, Monash University and the University of Queensland collaborated with the lead researchers.