Japan Develops Unexpected Weight Loss Method

A new development by Japanese researchers could fundamentally change the approach to treating obesity and diabetes. Instead of regular injections of popular weight loss medications, scientists from Osaka University have proposed a one-time genetic intervention, after which the body itself begins to produce the necessary substance. The work was published in the journal Communications Medicine (ComMedicine).

Instead of correcting mutations that cause disease (as gene therapy typically does), researchers introduced a new gene into the liver cells of mice that encodes exenatide - an analog of the GLP-1 hormone that reduces appetite and improves metabolism. Exenatide is also used in already approved medications for treating diabetes and weight loss, but it usually needs to be administered regularly.

"Our approach combined the benefits of gene therapy and biological drugs," explained the study leader Keiichiro Suzuki. "We have shown that it's possible to introduce a gene into the body, and the cells will start producing the necessary drug for several months, without the need for constant injections."

In the treated mice, blood levels of exenatide remained stable for a long time, and the animals themselves ate less, gained weight more slowly, and had better glucose metabolism. No side effects were recorded.

The authors note that this method may be suitable for treating not only obesity but also other chronic diseases not associated with specific genetic mutations - such as type 2 diabetes and inflammatory diseases.

If the effectiveness of the method is confirmed in further studies, it could become the basis for creating new, long-acting medications that will improve patients' quality of life and free them from the need for regular injections.