Antibody-mediated activation of the FGFR1/Klothoβ complex corrects metabolic dysfunction and alters food preference in obese humans
- Journal:
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
- Published:
- DOI:
- 10.1073/pnas.2012073117
- Affiliations:
- 2
- Authors:
- 15
Research Highlight
A hormone-mimicking weight-loss drug
© Felipe Caparrós Cruz/EyeEm/Getty Images
An experimental drug designed to mimic a metabolic hormone is showing early promise as an anti-obesity treatment.
A team from Genentech, a Roche subsidiary, designed a bispecific antibody drug to bind and activate two receptors normally triggered by fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), a hormone involved in regulating fat and sugar use.
The researchers first evaluated the drug in obese monkeys. A single injection caused profound weight loss, with marked reductions in food consumption to boot.
They next tested the therapy in 71 obese or overweight individuals, each of whom received a single injection of the drug or a placebo under the skin. The drug was well tolerated, improved blood measures of cardiometabolic health and, compared to the placebo, caused significant reductions in body weight. Both caloric intake and a desire for sweet foods decreased as well.
Roche is now investigating the drug in larger trials involving people with an advanced form of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
References
- PNAS 117, 28992-29000 (2020). doi: 10.1073/pnas.2012073117
Institutions | Authors | Share |
---|---|---|
Genentech, Inc., United States of America (USA) | 0.93 | |
ProSciento, Inc., United States of America (USA) | 0.07 |