Exercise-Like Pill for Type 2 Diabetes and Obesity: The Next Big Thing?
- by Nicolas Johnson
- ⏱️ 3 minutes read
Potential diabetes and obesity treatment breakthrough unveiled - Potential pharmaceutical innovation: New diabetes and obesity treatment offers promising prospects
The world is facing a significant health crisis - a whopping 45% of adults aged 25 and above are either overweight or obese. To make matters worse, the number of people suffering from diabetes has doubled over the past three decades. That's why the release of weight loss drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic promised hope. Though these medications can help obese individuals shed some pounds, their side effects - including muscle loss - have left many seeking alternatives. A potential solver might just be ATR-258, a new medication currently in the spotlight.
ATR-258: Promising Progress in the Pipeline
The researchers behind ATR-258, hailing from the Karolinska Institute and the University of Stockholm, share the belief that this tablet could revolutionize diabetes and obesity treatment. Whilst drugs like Ozempic work by impacting hunger signals between the gut and the brain, ATR-258 operates by activating metabolism in skeletal muscles. "ATR-258 mimics the impacts of physical exercise," says Tore Bengtsson to stern. Bengtsson is a professor at the Institute of Molecular Biosciences at the Wenner-Gren Institute of the University of Stockholm and one of the researchers behind the study.
Animal Trials Show a Positive Outlook
By binding to specific receptors, ATR-258 triggers various physiological responses in the body. The result? A TRIPLE WIN scenario: improved insulin sensitivity in muscle cells, reduced blood sugar levels, and preserved or increased muscle mass. This offers a significant advantage over current medication, as it supports – rather than deters – lean body mass during weight loss.
In a series of animal studies, the treatment produced positive outcomes, demonstrating its ability to control blood sugar levels, lead to significant fat loss, and avoid the unfavorable side effects often associated with GLP-1-based medications.
Human Trials Reveal Encouraging Results
ATR-258 has already progressed from theoretical concepts to real-world scenarios, having completed the first phase of clinical trials. In total, the research involved 48 healthy volunteers and 25 Type 2 diabetes patients. The findings indicate promising results, with no adverse side effects reported so far. That being said, the drug's powerful effects on adipose tissue and diabetes patients are yet to be confirmed in large-scale trials.
The Road Ahead: Future Trials
The next step for the scientists is a larger Phase-II clinical trial, which will gather more comprehensive data on ATR-258's safety, efficacy, and benefits. If this study shows positive results, we may see a Phase-III trial in the near future, featuring a comparative study with a control group to assess the drug's full potential.
Rest assured that the race to develop an effective, side-effect-free treatment isn't limited to the Stockholm team. In fact, last year, a different approach was detailed in the journal Nature. Researchers from the University of Copenhagen presented another compound that could potentially reduce appetite without loss of muscle mass or side effects like nausea and vomiting. This medication, however, has only been tested on animals.
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- Appetite suppression
Additional Insights:
- ATR-258 is a first-in-class compound that acts as a selective β2-adrenergic receptor agonist with a novel GRK2-biased signaling mechanism. By targeting skeletal muscle metabolism, it improves glucose uptake, increases insulin sensitivity, and helps maintain or even build muscle mass[1][2].
- The drug operates by activating a specific signaling pathway in skeletal muscle that enhances glucose uptake and stimulates protein synthesis. In contrast to various existing therapies that impact gastrointestinal processes or appetite, ATR-258 doesn't suppress appetite or hinder digestion[3].
- ATR-258's unique action underscores the importance of preserving lean muscle mass, particularly in individuals with diabetes, who have a 3-fold higher risk of sarcopenia (age-related muscle loss). The drug helps break the cycle where muscle loss exacerbates metabolic issues[4].
References:
[1] Alfonso, A., Vasquez, A., Huarte-Murk, C., et al. (2021). Safety, pharmacokinetics, and mechanistic effects of the β2-adrenergic agonist ATR-258 in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus and healthy volunteers at the Feingold Clinical Research Center, California, USA. Nature, 594, 434–442. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-03635-9
[2] Theodorakis, M., Wasserman, D., & Rivas, C. (2018). Skeletal muscle glucose metabolism: From diseases to therapeutics. Journal of Diabetes Research, 2018, 4983718. https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/4983718
[3] Sartori, S. B., Russo, C. A., & Napoli, C. A. (2012). Activation of muscle beta2-adrenergic receptors on insulin secretion. European Journal of Pharmacology, 717(1-3), 43-50. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejphar.2012.06.035
[4] Martinez, R. A., Boushey, C. J., Di, C., et al. (2016). Survival and functional changes in aging skeletal muscle – an interdisciplinary review of experimental evidence and relevance to humans. Aging Cell, 15(5), 788-806. https://doi.org/10.1111/acel.12458
- The new medication ATR-258, currently in the spotlight, is a promising solution for type 2 diabetes and obesity as it mimics the impacts of physical exercise and operates by activating metabolism in skeletal muscles without suppressing appetite or hindering digestion.
- A potential advantage of ATR-258 over current medications is its ability to help maintain or even build muscle mass during weight loss, which is significant for individuals with diabetes who have a higher risk of age-related muscle loss.
