Khaberni - Researchers revealed a trial injection for weight loss that helps remove subcutaneous accumulated fat, along with reducing the visceral fat surrounding the internal organs associated with increased risk of heart disease and diabetes.
The drug named "CBL-514" works through a mechanism different from common weight loss drugs such as "Wegovy" and "Mounjaro", as it directly targets fat cells and stimulates their destruction, rather than mainly relying on reducing appetite and enhancing the feeling of fullness.
In a phase two clinical trial, about 70% of the participants who received the drug recorded a significant reduction in subcutaneous fat during the treatment duration. MRI measurements also showed a decline in visceral fats among participants who received the drug.
The study included 41 participants who received doses of up to 600 milligrams of CBL-514 or a placebo over three months. One month after the last dose, the levels of visceral fats in the group that received the drug decreased by about 12% compared to the start of the study, while it increased by about 6% in the group that received the placebo.
Two months later, the levels of visceral fats remained about 10% lower in the drug group, while it increased by about 11.8% in the other group.
Dr. Timothy Garvey, one of the supervisors of the study, said that the results could be beneficial from a cosmetic perspective, such as reducing belly fat, but the greater health importance relates to reducing body weight and visceral fats, along with a potential improvement in indicators such as blood pressure and cholesterol.
The researchers also studied the use of CBL-514 with "Tirzepatide", the active ingredient in "Mounjaro". In experiments on rats, combining the two drugs resulted in greater weight loss, and the animals regained less weight after stopping the use of "Tirzepatide".
The researchers believe that the reason is due to the destruction of fat cells, which may reduce the body's ability to form and store fat again, but they emphasize that this effect needs further study. The side effects recorded in the trial were limited, being confined to redness and pain at the injection site.
Despite the encouraging initial results, the researchers emphasize the need for larger trials and longer follow-up periods to verify the safety, effectiveness, and long-term impact of the drug.
Two phase three clinical trials are scheduled to begin to evaluate CBL-514 on a wider scale.
These results come amidst ongoing research to develop new treatments for weight loss and reduce its recovery after stopping treatment. Among these treatments is another experimental drug known as "EloraTZP", which a 48-week study showed helped participants lose up to 23.3% of body weight.
