Rivus Pharmaceuticals Announces Publication of Phase 2a HuMAIN Trial of HU6 in Patients with Obesity-Related Heart Failure in JAMA Cardiology
March 12, 2025 / HU6 Obesity Treatment / Heart Failure / Visceral Fat Reduction / Cardiometabolic Disease Therapy / Clinical Trial Results
The Phase 2a HuMAIN trial showed that HU6 significantly reduced visceral fat and total body fat while preserving lean mass in patients with obesity-related HFpEF. HU6 also improved cardiac function and blood pressure, demonstrating potential as a disease-modifying therapy.
HU6 Cuts Fat-Specific Body Weight in Obesity-Related HFpEF
March 13, 2025 / HU6 Clinical Trial Results / Fat-specific Weight Loss / Preserveed Lean Muscle Mass
“The HuMAIN-HFpEF trial showed that HU6 significantly reduced fat-specific body weight and visceral adiposity while preserving lean mass in patients with obesity-related HFpEF. However, HU6 did not improve peak VO2 or functional outcomes, warranting further long-term studies.
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Mother’s high-fat diet can cause liver stress in fetus, study shows
March 13, 2025 / Maternal Diet / Fetal Health / Liver Disease in Newborns / Liver Health
A maternal high-fat diet can cause fetal liver stress by increasing bile acid accumulation, predisposing offspring to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). Liver damage, fibrosis, and altered gene expression persist into early life, highlighting prenatal diet’s role in metabolic disease risk.
Roche Puts Up $1.65B to Partner With Zealand on ‘Future Foundational Therapy’ for Obesity
March 12, 2025 / Roche Zealand Pharma Partnership / Petrelintide Obesity Treatment / Weight Loss Drug / GLP-1 Alternative
Roche is investing $1.65 billion in Zealand Pharma’s amylin-based obesity drug, petrelintide, aiming for weight loss with better tolerability than GLP-1 therapies. Phase 1 results showed 8.3% weight loss, and Phase 2 trials are underway to assess long-term efficacy.
Examining the roles of body composition, energy expenditure and substrate metabolism in the control of daily energy intake in adolescents with obesity
March 13, 2024 / Adolescent Obesity / Resting Metabolic Rate / Energy Intake Regulation
This study highlights resting metabolic rate (RMR) as a key factor in appetite regulation among adolescents with obesity. Fat-free mass (FFM) significantly influences daily energy intake via RMR, with carbohydrate and protein oxidation also linked to energy consumption.
Protein from small intestine may hold key to obesity treatment
March 13, 2025 / APOA4 Obesity Treatment / Small Intestine Protein Weight Loss / Metabolic Health / Obesity Research Breakthrough
Ohio University researchers found that supplementing Apolipoprotein A4 (APOA4), a protein produced in the small intestine, can reduce fat mass, improve liver health, and combat obesity without affecting food intake or activity, paving the way for potential clinical treatments.
Halia Therapeutics Awarded Novo Nordisk Golden Ticket to Advance Obesity and Inflammation Research
March 11, 2025 / Halia Therapeutics / Obesity Research / Novo Nordisk / Inflammation Treatment / GLP-1 Therapy Enhancement
Halia Therapeutics received the Novo Nordisk Golden Ticket to advance HT-6184, a NEK7/NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitor targeting chronic inflammation in obesity-related diseases. HT-6184 enhances GLP-1 therapy effects, with a Phase 2 trial in combination with semaglutide planned for 2025.
Irisin reverses high-fat diet-induced metabolic dysfunction via activation of brown adipose tissue in mice
March 11, 2025 / Irisin / Metabolism / Brown Adipose Tissue Activation / Glucose Metabolism Improvement
Irisin restores brown adipose tissue (iBAT) function impaired by a high-fat diet, enhancing thermogenesis, glucose uptake, and systemic metabolism in mice. Its beneficial effects depend on treatment duration and are partially suppressed when iBAT is removed.
The cyclic metabolic switching theory of intermittent fasting
March 14, 2025 / Intermittent Fasting Benefits / Cyclic Metabolic Switching / Cellular Health
The Cyclic Metabolic Switching (CMS) Theory proposes that intermittent fasting (IF) benefits health by alternating stress response activation during fasting with growth pathways during feeding. This metabolic cycling may surpass continuous caloric restriction or ketogenic diets in promoting cellular and systemic health.
Human gut microbial aromatic amino acid and related metabolites prevent obesity through intestinal immune control
March 14, 2024 / Gut Microbiome / Obesity / Aromatic Amino Acid Metabolites / Weight Loss
Gut microbial metabolites, including 4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid (4HPAA), regulate intestinal immunity and lipid uptake, preventing obesity. Findings from a longitudinal cohort and mouse models highlight gut microbiome-derived aromatic amino acid metabolites as potential therapeutic targets for obesity prevention.
Cut the Sulfur, Shed the Fat: New Diet Approach Could Outperform Popular Weight Loss Methods
March 17, 2025 / Sulfur Amino Acid Restriction / Metabolism / Weight Loss / Obesity Prevention
A sulfur amino acid restriction (SAAR) diet promotes fat loss by altering metabolism without reducing appetite or activity. The diet shifts energy use, enhances fat breakdown, and may offer a sustainable obesity treatment. Human trials are needed for validation.
Roche, Zealand Pharma Partner to Co-Develop & Co-Commercialize Obesity Therapy
March 12, 2025 / Petrelintide Obesity Treatment / Roche / Partnership / GLP-1 GIP Combination Therapy
Roche and Zealand Pharma will co-develop and co-commercialize petrelintide, a long-acting amylin analog in Phase 2 trials for obesity. The collaboration includes combining petrelintide with Roche’s dual GLP-1/GIP agonist CT-388 to enhance efficacy and tolerability in weight management.
Unveiling Pharma Market Potential: DelveInsight’s Strategic Insights into the Rapidly Expanding MASH Landscape in Asia
March 13, 2025 / MASH Market / Metabolic Liver Disease Trends / FDA Approval / Emerging Therapies
DelveInsight’s assessment of the Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis (MASH) market in Asia highlights rising prevalence due to obesity and metabolic syndrome. With REZDIFFRA’s FDA approval, emerging therapies may reshape treatment landscapes across key Asian countries. Market expansion is expected through 2034.
Incretin triple agonist retatrutide (LY3437943) alleviates obesity-associated cancer progression
March 14, 2025 / Retatrutide / Cancer Prevention / Obesity / Weight Loss Drugs
The incretin triple agonist retatrutide (RETA) significantly reduces obesity-associated pancreatic and lung cancer progression in preclinical models. RETA induces durable anti-tumor immunity, delaying tumor onset and reducing tumor volume beyond semaglutide, even after weight regain, highlighting potential oncology benefits.
Chchd10 protein’s regulation of adipose tissue offers new obesity management strategies
March 17, 2025 / Chchd10 / Obesity Management / Metabolic Health / Metabolism
Researchers identified Chchd10 as a key regulator of adipose tissue homeostasis, influencing fat distribution and metabolism. Downregulation enhances subcutaneous fat formation and antioxidant capacity in visceral fat, reducing obesity risks. Targeting Chchd10 pathways may offer new therapeutic strategies for metabolic disorders.
OPKO Health and Entera Bio Enter into Collaboration Agreement to Advance Oral GLP-1/Glucagon Tablet Candidate into the Clinic to Treat Obesity and Metabolic Disorders
March 17, 2025 / Oral GLP-1 / Glucagon Therapy / Entera Bio Partnership / Metabolic Drugs
OPKO Health and Entera Bio are developing the first oral GLP-1/glucagon dual agonist tablet (OPK-88006) for obesity and metabolic disorders using Entera’s N-Tab™ technology. The collaboration aims to improve weight loss, appetite suppression, and cardiometabolic health with a non-injectable option.
Lipid Metabolites Emerge as Noninvasive Diagnostic Tool in MASH
March 13, 2025 / MASH noninvasive Diagnosis / MASLD / Metabolic Liver Disease Biomarkers / Liver Health
A lipidomic analysis identified elevated levels of deoxycholic acid, triacylglycerols, ceramides, and phospholipids in MASH patients, suggesting a potential noninvasive diagnostic tool. These findings reinforce the role of lipid metabolites in MASLD/MASH progression and highlight the need for further validation.
Novel cyclic peptide antagonist can be a promising therapeutic approach for MASH
March 14, 2024 / FXR Antagonist for MASH / Cyclic Peptide Therapy / Liver Disease / Metabolic Dysfunction Treatment
The novel cyclic peptide FXR antagonist DC646 selectively inhibits intestinal FXR, reducing ceramide production, inflammation, and fibrosis while promoting GLP-1 release. DC646 shows strong MASH treatment potential with high target specificity and a favorable safety profile.
Icosabutate fails MASH Phase 2 trial but shows some benefits in liver
March 17, 2024 / Icosabutate MASH Trial / Liver Fibrosis Treatment / MASH Clinical Research / Metabolic Liver Disease
Northsea Therapeutics’ icosabutate failed to resolve MASH in a Phase 2b trial but significantly improved liver fibrosis, inflammation, and blood sugar control. This FFAR1/FFAR4 agonist remains under investigation for advanced MASH as a monotherapy or combination treatment.
Nwd1 gene deletion triggers MASH-like pathology in mice
March 11, 2024 / MASH / Nwd1 Gene / Liver Disease / New Therapeutic Targets
Deletion of the Nwd1 gene in mice triggers MASH-like liver pathology, including lipid accumulation, fibrosis, ER stress, and inflammation. Nwd1 regulates SERCA2 activity and calcium homeostasis, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target for MASH treatment.