New weight-loss drug reduces appetite without nausea – and may even burn calories

A new, better Ozempic?

Scientists at the University of Copenhagen say they have developed a drug that curbs appetite while increasing calorie burning – without any signs of nausea.

“While GLP-1-based therapies have revolutionized patient care for obesity and type 2 diabetes, safe use of energy expenditure and control of appetite without nausea remain two holy grails in this field,” said Zach Gerhart-Hines of Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolism Research at the University of Copenhagen.

Ozempic belongs to a class of diabetes and obesity medications that mimic the GLP-1 hormone, which the body naturally produces after eating, suppresses appetite and stimulates weight loss.

The University of Copenhagen scientists – funded by Ozempic maker Novo Nordisk – wanted to see if they could develop drugs that suppress appetite and increase calorie burning.

They examined more than 380 G protein-coupled receptors—which receive signals from hormones and other stimuli to activate proteins, triggering a cellular response in the body—and ranked them based on their association with HbA1c, an important indicator of blood sugar regulation and diabetes Progression.

Researchers believe they have found their answer in the neurokinin 2 receptor (NK2R) after uncovering its genetic links to obesity and blood sugar control.

NK2R has been studied for its role in the gastrointestinal tract and central nervous system, but the study authors believe it has not previously been linked to blood sugar regulation or cardiometabolic health.

The University of Copenhagen researchers say scientists have not been able to effectively exploit NK2R's signaling pathway because its natural activator is quickly broken down in the body and can bind to receptors other than NK2R, making it difficult to exploit with drugs.

So they developed selective, long-acting NK2R agonists and found that they increased calorie burning and reduced appetite in mice without signs of nausea.

In diabetic, obese macaques, NK2R activation significantly reduced body weight, blood sugar, harmful triglycerides, and cholesterol while improving insulin sensitivity.

“One of the biggest hurdles in drug development is translation between mice and humans,” said study author Frederike Sass. “For this reason, we were excited that the benefits of NK2R agonism could be translated to diabetic and obese nonhuman primates, representing a major step toward clinical translation.”

The once-weekly shot still has a long way to go before it gets into the hands of consumers. Gerhart-Hines told The Post that his team plans to begin clinical trials next year. It would most likely take five or six years before the drug would be made available to the public.

The study results, published Wednesday in Nature, are based on a recent survey that found about 12% of U.S. adults have taken a GLP-1 drug such as Ozempic or Mounjaro.

What worries doctors is the fact that an estimated 50 to 75% of people who start taking GLP-1 drugs stop taking them within a year. Some people have cited cost and side effects such as nausea as factors.

Others stop because they have reached their weight loss goals – although it is common to gain weight back when you stop taking the medication.

The cardiologist Dr. Sadiya Khan of Northwestern Medicine is among those calling for more research into ways to support long-term use.

“The astonishingly high dropout rates of GLP-1 [drugs] should alert doctors, policymakers and public health experts,” Khan said on Wednesday.