Khaberni - A recent scientific study revealed a possible reason for the varying responses of individuals to GLP-1 class obesity treatment drugs, such as "Ozempic" and "Mounjaro".
According to the research, specific genetic variants may play a crucial role in how effective these drugs are or in the occurrence of their side effects.
The study, published in the journal Nature and prepared by an international team of researchers, indicated the presence of two genetic variants in gut hormonal pathways that control appetite and digestion processes. These genetic differences affect how the body responds to medications designed for obesity treatment.
These drugs are widely used because they help regulate appetite, stimulate insulin secretion, and slow down digestion, which contributes to weight loss.
However, doctors have noticed over the years that some patients lose significantly more weight than others when taking the same medication, while others suffer side effects such as nausea or vomiting.
To understand these differences, researchers analyzed the data from full genomic studies of approximately 28,000 people who received GLP-1 class drugs, comparing the results related to weight loss and side effects that appeared in the patients.
The results showed that a variant in the GLP-1R gene located on chromosome 6 might partially explain why some individuals lose more weight, as these drugs primarily work by affecting the receptor of this gene.
Conversely, the researchers discovered that another variant in the GIPR gene on chromosome 19 might be associated with an increased likelihood of side effects. This variant can disrupt the hormonal pathway associated with protection from nausea, increasing the probability of drug intolerance.
The researchers believe that these findings support the idea that genetic differences in the targeted genes may explain the varying responses of patients to these drugs.
In turn, researcher José Ordovas, a nutrition and genomics specialist at Tufts University, said that these results represent a step towards developing more precise treatments for obesity. He added that the response to these drugs varies significantly among patients, making understanding the genetic factors important for the development of what is known as personalized medicine.
However, scientists emphasize that other factors such as age, gender, physical activity, and diet remain influential elements in treatment success alongside genetic factors.
