A protein has been discovered in the human body that is as effective as Wegovy and Maunja in treating diabetes and obesity. It is secreted by gut bacteria that coexist with humans.
An international research team led by the Novo Nordisk Metabolism Research Center at the University of Copenhagen announced in the journal Nature Microbiology on the 31st that they have discovered gut bacteria that could be used as a new treatment for chronic diseases such as obesity and diabetes. This center is supported by Novo Nordisk, a Danish pharmaceutical company that is a leader in obesity treatments.
The researchers found that specific gut bacteria produce proteins similar to the hormone 'irisin,' which is secreted from muscles when exercising and plays a crucial role in fat metabolism. Irisin breaks down fat and helps with energy metabolism. The proteins 'RORDEP1' and 'RORDEP2' produced by this bacteria have a structure similar to irisin and also have similar functions.
The experimental results showed that RORDEP proteins increase the secretion of important hormones involved in appetite suppression and blood sugar regulation, while inhibiting the secretion of hormones involved in weight gain. At the same time, they promote insulin secretion, helping to maintain stable blood sugar levels while burning more body fat.
Just by hearing about it, it sounds identical to Wegovy. Wegovy and the obesity drug Maunja from the American pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly are both medications that mimic the glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1 hormone. This hormone is secreted in the small intestine after meals, increasing insulin production in the pancreas to lower blood sugar and inducing a feeling of fullness in the brain.
The research team administered proteins secreted by gut bacteria to mice. As a result, weight gain was suppressed, blood sugar levels decreased, and bone density improved. Additionally, the number of bacteria producing RORDEP varied among individuals, with some individuals having up to 100,000 times more; those with a higher amount of these bacteria tended to be slimmer.
The human gut hosts hundreds of trillions of gut bacteria. These bacteria not only assist in digestion but also impact the entire body through the bloodstream and the gut's nervous system. Metabolic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia, as well as heart diseases, cerebrovascular diseases, and even neurological disorders like depression, dementia, autism, and Parkinson's disease, are known to be influenced by them. This research is the first to demonstrate that gut bacteria can alter the hormonal balance in humans that controls blood sugar and appetite.
Based on this discovery, the research team established a bio venture corporation GutCRINE and is also conducting its first clinical trial on actual human subjects. They are administering gut bacteria that produce RORDEP to healthy individuals to observe the body's response and are also testing the effects of the RORDEP1 protein separately.
Oluf Pedersen, a professor at the University of Copenhagen, noted, "The goal is to test the preventive and therapeutic potential of RORDEP-producing bacteria looking 10 to 15 years ahead. We aim to investigate whether these can be used as health supplements to prevent chronic diseases and whether a modified form of the RORDEP protein can be developed into treatments for cardiovascular diseases, obesity, diabetes, and osteoporosis."
References
Nature Microbiology (2025), DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41564-025-02064-x