Scientists say they’ve come up with a way for the body to produce its own store of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1).
GLP-1 is the naturally produced hormone whose function is being mimicked by drugs like semaglutide and tirzepatide, the active ingredients in popular and highly effective weight-loss drugs like Wegovy and Zepbound.
As CNN reports, two biotech startups are working on gene therapy treatments that would require, in a best-case scenario, a single injection that would reprogram the body’s cells to produce the hormone instead of relying on weekly injections like current drugs. The idea is to coax existing cells into producing the hormone, reaping the benefits of GLP-1 drugs without ongoing treatment.
Both companies have already shown that the approach works in mice and are already testing it on larger animals, including pigs and monkeys.
