An innovative obesity medication that operates differently from the popular Ozempic has demonstrated effectiveness in aiding weight loss, as per findings from a preliminary human trial.

Ozempic and other GLP-1 drugs work by reducing food intake through inducing a sensation of fullness. These medications act on the brain to enhance satiety and on the gut to slow down food movement in the stomach, leading to prolonged feelings of fullness. Consequently, individuals taking these drugs tend to lose weight by consuming fewer calories.

However, a new drug may have the ability to burn energy and fat without suppressing appetite. In a Phase I trial recently reported in the journal Nature Metabolism, the drug, named SANA, resulted in significant weight loss among participants after a two-week period. Developed by Eolo Pharma of Montevideo, Uruguay, the drug is derived from salicylate, a compound commonly used in aspirin production. SANA activates a pathway known as creatine-dependent thermogenesis.

Creatine is typically recognized as a dietary supplement consumed post-exercise to aid in muscle mass development. Nevertheless, this compound is naturally present in the human body and plays a crucial role in energy production.

Carlos Escande, the co-founder and chief scientific officer of Eolo, notes, "It has been established for quite some time that creatine has positive effects on metabolism." In the 1970s, researchers observed that rats exposed to cold temperatures utilized a significant amount of creatine. It wasn't until a decade ago that a team from Harvard discovered the involvement of creatine in generating heat within fatty adipose tissue during cold exposure.

The process of burning energy and producing heat to sustain a stable internal temperature is termed thermogenesis. Creatine-dependent thermogenesis pertains to how the breakdown of creatine, particularly in fat cells, contributes to heat and energy production.

In the initial phase of the trial, 17 healthy-weight individuals were randomly assigned to receive either a placebo or varying doses of SANA. The drug was found to be safe and well-tolerated at all doses with no severe side effects. Subsequently, the drug was tested in 24 participants with obesity over a 15-day period. Following the study, individuals who received the highest dose of SANA exhibited a weight loss of approximately 3 percent, comparable to the weight loss observed in individuals taking Ozempic and Wegovy over the same treatment duration. Notably, participants did not report reduced appetite or satiety during the trial.