Stanford scientists discover "natural Ozempic" without side effects Scientists at Stanford Medicine have identified a naturally occurring molecule that mimics the weight loss effects of semaglutide, the drug known as Ozempic, but with fewer side effects. The molecule, named BRP, was discovered using artificial intelligence and appears to act directly on the brain’s appetite-control center, reducing food intake and promoting fat loss without causing nausea, constipation, or muscle loss. The findings, published in Nature, could pave the way for more targeted and safer weight loss treatments. The discovery relied on a computational tool called Peptide Predictor, which analyzed human protein-coding genes to identify potential peptides derived from prohormones. These molecules, initially inactive, can be split into smaller fragments that function as hormones. The team focused on an enzyme, prohormone convertase 1/3, linked to obesity, and narrowed their search to proteins secreted outside cells, which are key features of hormones. This process identified 373 prohormones, from which the algorithm predicted 2,683 possible peptides. Researchers tested 100 of these, including GLP-1, a hormone known to regulate appetite and blood sugar. Among the tested peptides, a 12-amino-acid fragment, named BRP (short for BRINP2-related-peptide), showed the most potent effects. In lab-grown brain cells, BRP significantly increased neuronal activity, tenfold higher than GLP-1. Animal studies further demonstrated its efficacy: in lean mice and minipigs, a single injection reduced food intake by up to 50% within an hour. Over 14 days, obese mice treated with BRP lost an average of 3 grams of body weight, primarily fat, while untreated animals gained similar amounts.#stanford_medicine #brp #peptide_predictor #merrifield_therapeutics #university_of_california_berkeley
