Python Blood Compound Could Revolutionise Weight Loss Treatments
In a groundbreaking development, scientists have identified a key appetite-suppressing compound in python blood that could pave the way for next-generation weight loss drugs. This discovery, announced by researchers from the University of Colorado Boulder, Stanford Medicine, and Baylor University, offers hope for creating medications that curb appetite without the common side effects like nausea and muscle loss associated with current treatments such as Ozempic and Wegovy.
Nature-Inspired Biology at Work
The research draws inspiration from nature, similar to how the hormone from the Gila monster lizard led to the development of semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy. Leslie Leinwand, a distinguished professor at Colorado University Boulder and senior author of the study, emphasised, "This is a perfect example of nature-inspired biology. You look at extraordinary animals that can do things that you and I and other mammals can’t do, and you try to harness that for therapeutic interventions."
Pythons possess one of the fastest metabolisms in the animal kingdom, accelerating up to 4,000 times their normal level during digestion. After consuming prey, researchers observed a significant increase in 208 metabolites, with one compound, para-tyramine-O-sulfate (pTOS), surging by 1,000 times its regular amount.
Promising Results in Animal Studies
When pTOS was administered to obese or lean mice, it targeted the appetite centre in their brains, resulting in weight loss without causing stomach issues, energy decline, or muscle loss. Over 28 days, the mice lost nine percent of their body weight, with no changes in water intake. Dr. Jonathan Long, an associate professor at Stanford, noted, "Obviously, we are not snakes. But maybe by studying these animals we can identify molecules or metabolic pathways that also affect human metabolism."
Further analysis revealed that pTOS is a byproduct of bacterial breakdown of the amino acid tyrosine, found in dietary protein. Treating pythons with antibiotics before feeding eliminated the increase in pTOS levels, highlighting its microbial origin.
Potential for Human Applications
While pTOS is present in human urine at low levels and increases slightly after eating, most research has been conducted on mice or rats. The team analysed human blood datasets and found that pTOS levels were elevated in five out of six cases, though typically by small amounts. However, one individual showed a fivefold increase, suggesting variability that warrants further investigation.
Leinwand stated, "We’ve basically discovered an appetite suppressant that works in mice without some of the side-effects that GLP-1 drugs have." The researchers plan to explore other metabolites in python blood, some of which rose by up to 800 percent, indicating more potential discoveries ahead.
Commercialisation and Broader Implications
To advance this research, Leinwand and her colleagues have founded a start-up called Arkana Therapeutics, aiming to commercialise their findings. Beyond weight loss, the compound may also help treat sarcopenia, age-related muscle loss affecting 10-20 percent of adults over 60, for which there are currently no effective therapies.
This study underscores the high discontinuation rate of current weight loss drugs, with about half of users stopping within the first year due to side effects, cost, and other factors. By leveraging python biology, scientists hope to develop safer, more effective treatments that improve patient outcomes and address unmet medical needs.
