Hormonal
Long-acting Fc-fusion GDF15 molecules reduce body weight and improve metabolic profiles in obese models by delaying gastric emptying, altering food preference, and activating area postrema neurons.
This research suggests that engineered GDF15 therapies could effectively treat obesity by slowing digestion and changing food preferences via brain signaling. While currently in preclinical stages, the weekly dosing schedule of these long-acting variants offers a promising alternative to daily oral medications for metabolic disorders.
Furthermore, we discovered that GDF15 delayed gastric emptying, changed food preference, and activated area postrema neurons, confirming a role for GDF15 in the gut-brain axis responsible for the regulation of body energy intake.
Why this rating
Strong preclinical evidence across multiple species (mice, rats, monkeys) with consistent results, though human clinical data is limited to observational serum levels.
Source
Long-acting MIC-1/GDF15 molecules to treat obesity: Evidence from mice to monkeys
Yumei Xiong et al. · Science Translational Medicine · 2017
DOI 10.1126/scitranslmed.aan8732
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