A technology has been developed that can double the efficacy duration of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) drugs, which have sparked a trend in obesity treatments. It is expected to also reduce the dosage compared to existing treatments, potentially addressing side effect issues.
Bradley Pentelute, a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), noted on the 24th, "We have developed a method to slow down the degradation rate of GLP-1 analogs by combining them with antibodies." The results of this research were disclosed at the American Chemical Society (ACS) Spring 2025 National Meeting held in San Diego on the same day.
GLP-1 is a hormone secreted in the human body. It primarily promotes the secretion of insulin, which regulates blood sugar levels, and stimulates neurons in the hypothalamus to decrease appetite and induce a sense of fullness. Pharmaceutical companies initially developed it as a diabetes treatment by mimicking it, later advancing it to obesity treatment upon confirming its weight loss effects. Notable GLP-1 class obesity medications include Eli Lilly's Munjaro (active ingredient tirzepatide) and Denmark's Novo Nordisk's Wegovy (semaglutide).
GLP-1 analogs are composed of peptides, which are protein components, and have limitations as they are rapidly degraded in the human body. This reduces their efficacy and shortens their duration of action. Both Munjaro and Wegovy require administration once a week due to these limitations, decreasing convenience for users. Administering high doses to prolong the effects can lead to side effects such as gastrointestinal disorders.
The research team addressed this issue by attaching GLP-1 analogs to immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies. IgG enhances the stability of the drug and allows it to be delivered only to the specific target, which is mainly used to increase the efficacy of chemotherapy drugs. For instance, attaching the drug to the antibody turns it into a guided missile that only finds and attacks enemies.
The research team extracted IgG from humans and mice, then reacted it with GLP-1 analogs at 37 degrees Celsius to achieve a binding rate of over 50%. After creating this drug, they administered it to mice suffering from type 2 diabetes and metabolic obesity, measuring the duration of its effects.
Experimental results showed that one dose of the drug maintains blood sugar reduction and weight loss effects for 15 days. This suggests that the administration period could be extended to once every two weeks. Notably, reducing the dosage of the GLP-1 agent to one-fourth still showed similar efficacy, which could minimize side effects.
Professor Pentelute expressed hope that by combining with antibodies, the expense of peptide-based drugs could be reduced while enhancing their effectiveness, stating, "We are also developing a method to attach multiple drugs to a single antibody for use in combination therapy."
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