斯坦福医学院研究团队借助人工智能发现了一种名为BRP的天然分子，在动物实验中展现出与Ozempic相似的减肥效果，同时避免了恶心、便秘和肌肉大量流失等常见副作用[1]。这一发现已于2025年3月5日刊登在《自然》杂志第641卷第8061期[1]。
BRP是一个仅含12个氨基酸的极小分子，在细胞测试中引发的神经活动是对照组的10倍[1]。在小鼠和小型猪模型中，肌肉注射BRP可将进食量减少50%[1]。肥胖小鼠经过14天的每日注射后，平均体重下降3克，且这些减重几乎完全来自体脂肪，而同期对照组则增重约3克[1]。行为学测试未发现BRP在运动、饮水、焦虑行为或排便方面引起明显变化[1]。
该研究的作用机制与现有减肥药物存在关键差异。资深作者Katrin Svensson博士指出："semaglutide靶向的受体存在于大脑以及肠道、胰腺和其他组织中，而BRP似乎主要作用于下丘脑"[1]。由Katrin Svensson博士共同创办的Merrifield Therapeutics公司计划不久后启动人体临床试验[1]。
Stanford School of Medicine researchers have used artificial intelligence to identify a natural molecule called BRP that suppresses appetite and promotes weight loss similarly to Ozempic, but without triggering the nausea, constipation, and significant muscle loss typically associated with the popular medication.[1] The compound works by targeting a specific region of the brain—the hypothalamus—rather than acting broadly across multiple tissues like semaglutide does.[1] According to Dr. Katrin Svensson, a senior author of the research, "semaglutide targets receptors present in the brain as well as in the intestines, pancreas, and other tissues, while BRP appears to act primarily on the hypothalamus."[1]
BRP is an extremely small molecule composed of just 12 amino acids that demonstrated a neural response ten times stronger than controls in cell tests.[1] In animal studies, muscular injections of BRP reduced food intake by 50 percent in mice and minipigs.[1] Obese mice treated with daily BRP injections for 14 days lost an average of 3 grams of body weight, with virtually all of that loss coming from body fat, while control animals gained approximately 3 grams over the same period.[1] Behavioral testing revealed no significant differences in movement, drinking, anxiety-related behavior, or bowel function between BRP-treated and untreated animals.[1]
The findings were published on March 5, 2025, in the journal Nature, Volume 641, Issue 8061, page 192.[1] Dr. Laetitia Coassolo was the primary author of the research, which was conducted under the direction of Dr. Svensson.[1] The team has co-founded Merrifield Therapeutics and plans to launch human clinical trials in the near future.[1]