Science has taken an important step in solving one of the major problems of modern obesity pharmacotherapy — muscle mass loss during the use of next-generation drugs. The introduction of agents such as semaglutide and other GLP-1 analogs has been a major breakthrough for millions, but alongside fat burning, patients face significant muscle wasting, impairing metabolism and leading to rapid weight regain.
Innovative RNA Therapy Against Muscle Loss
To address this issue, researchers from Northwestern University in Illinois (USA) have developed an experimental method to maintain muscle mass. In a study published in the scientific journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the authors proposed using a short synthetic RNA sequence to activate the body's natural calorie-burning mechanism.
Mechanism of Action and Experimental Results
Unlike GLP-1 drugs that act by suppressing appetite to reduce calorie intake, the new RNA therapy increases energy expenditure through thermogenesis. It suppresses the activity of the ZFP423 gene, which acts as a biological brake preventing white fat tissue from turning into calorie-burning beige fat tissue. In mouse tests, combined treatment with semaglutide and RNA therapy limited muscle loss to about 5.5%, compared to nearly 10% in monotherapy.
Prospects and Next Steps
Dr. Joseph Bass, director of the Center for Diabetes and Metabolism at Northwestern University, emphasizes that improving metabolic health through energy release helps overcome the challenges associated with appetite suppression. The university has already filed a patent application for this therapy and is beginning testing on human cells.
