Stanford Medicine researchers have identified a naturally occurring molecule, BRP, which shows promise in reducing appetite and body weight similarly to semaglutide, known as Ozempic. Animal testing indicated that BRP may avoid some of the side effects associated with semaglutide, such as nausea and muscle mass loss.
The research highlights that BRP operates through a different metabolic pathway than semaglutide. Katrin Svensson, PhD, assistant professor of pathology at Stanford Medicine, explained that while “the receptors targeted by semaglutide are found in the brain but also in the gut, pancreas and other tissues,” BRP appears to target specifically the hypothalamus.
Svensson has co-founded a company to initiate clinical trials for BRP in humans. The study was published on March 5 in Nature with senior research scientist Laetitia Coassolo, PhD, as the lead author.
Artificial intelligence played a crucial role in this discovery by analyzing proteins called prohormones. The AI tool named Peptide Predictor helped narrow down potential peptide candidates from thousands to 373 prohormones.
“The algorithm was absolutely key to our findings,” Svensson noted. Through this process, researchers identified a peptide sequence made up of 12 amino acids which they named BRP. In animal tests involving mice and minipigs, injections of BRP significantly reduced food intake and led to fat loss without affecting other behaviors or physiological functions.
Further research is planned to explore how BRP binds at the cellular level and extends its effects for practical human use. Svensson emphasized the potential impact on obesity treatment: “Nothing we’ve tested before has compared to semaglutide’s ability to decrease appetite and body weight.”
Collaborators included researchers from the University of California, Berkeley; University of Minnesota; and University of British Columbia. Funding came from several sources including the National Institutes of Health and Stanford’s SPARK Translational Research Program.
Svensson and Coassolo hold patents related to BRP peptides for treating metabolic disorders. This story originated from Stanford Medicine’s communications team.
Krista Conger
Tel: 650-725-5371
Email: kristac@stanford.edu
