Scientists are developing a drug that could mimic the effects of exercise on the body, potentially benefiting patients with type 2 diabetes and other conditions. The research, published in the journal Cell Metabolism, mapped over a thousand molecular changes that occur in muscles during physical activity.
In the study, researchers from the University of Sydney and the University of Copenhagen examined four healthy men after ten minutes of high-intensity exercise. They analysed how muscle molecules altered, providing the first comprehensive map of exercise-induced changes.
“It allows scientists to use this information to design a drug that mimics the true beneficial changes caused by exercise,” said co-author Dr Nolan Hoffman. Professor David James, who led the research, added: “Exercise is the most powerful therapy for many human diseases, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and neurological disorders.”
A separate review in Trends in Pharmacological Sciences assessed potential “exercise pills” and compared them with actual workouts. Co-author Ismail Laher told The Washington Post: “There is no way to replace routine exercise with an exercise pill… but in particular groups, it’s the next best thing.”
The researchers caution that any drug would need to target multiple molecules and is at least a decade away from availability. The concept is intended for people who cannot exercise, not as a substitute for regular physical activity.
