AI Helps Stanford Scientists Discover Natural Molecule That Could Rival Ozempic for Weight Loss

Scientists at Stanford Medicine have discovered a naturally occurring molecule that could pave the way for a new approach to weight loss treatment. Early experiments in animals suggest that the molecule, called BRP, can reduce appetite and promote fat loss in ways comparable to semaglutide, the active ingredient in popular weight loss medication Ozempic. Researchers believe it could also offer an advantage by potentially avoiding some of the side effects associated with existing GLP-1 drugs.

Unlike semaglutide, which affects multiple organs throughout the body, BRP appears to work more selectively in the hypothalamus, a region of the brain responsible for regulating hunger and metabolism. This targeted activity could help control appetite while reducing problems such as nausea, constipation and significant muscle loss, although these potential benefits have yet to be established in human studies.

Researchers used artificial intelligence (AI) to identify BRP after screening thousands of potential biological compounds. Following encouraging results from animal experiments, the team is now preparing to investigate whether the molecule is safe and effective in humans.

“The receptors targeted by semaglutide are found in the brain but also in the gut, pancreas and other tissues,” said assistant professor of pathology Katrin Svensson, PhD. “That’s why Ozempic has widespread effects including slowing the movement of food through the digestive tract and lowering blood sugar levels. In contrast, BRP appears to act specifically in the hypothalamus, which controls appetite and metabolism.”

How BRP Could Offer a Different Approach to Weight Loss

The hypothalamus is a small but important structure located deep within the brain. It regulates several essential bodily functions, including hunger, energy expenditure and body temperature, helping maintain the body’s internal balance. Its role in controlling appetite makes it a significant target for scientists exploring new obesity treatments.

Semaglutide belongs to a class of medications known as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs). It mimics GLP-1, a naturally produced hormone that helps regulate blood sugar levels and influences hunger and satiety. By activating GLP-1 receptors, the medication helps people feel fuller and reduces food intake.

However, these receptors are present in several tissues beyond the brain, including the digestive system and pancreas. Consequently, semaglutide can influence multiple bodily processes, contributing to effects such as delayed stomach emptying and changes in blood sugar regulation.

BRP appears to operate through a different biological pathway. Although it influences some of the same metabolic processes as semaglutide, it activates different populations of brain cells. This distinction could allow researchers to develop treatments that regulate appetite more precisely without triggering as many effects in other organs.

Svensson, who was the senior author of the study published in the journal Nature, has also cofounded a company focused on advancing BRP towards human clinical trials. The research was led by senior research scientist Laetitia Coassolo, PhD.

How Artificial Intelligence Helped Discover BRP

Identifying BRP required researchers to overcome a longstanding challenge in hormone discovery: distinguishing biologically active molecules from the enormous number of protein fragments naturally produced by the human body.

Many hormones originate as larger, inactive proteins called prohormones. Enzymes then break these proteins into smaller fragments known as peptides. Some of these peptides function as chemical messengers, helping regulate important processes such as appetite, energy metabolism and organ activity.

However, a single prohormone can be processed at multiple locations, creating several different peptides. While some of these fragments have important biological functions, others are simply byproducts of normal protein processing. Identifying the relatively rare peptides that act as hormones has therefore remained a difficult task.

Traditional hormone discovery methods often involve collecting proteins from biological tissues and examining them through techniques such as mass spectrometry. This technology identifies molecules by analysing their mass-related properties. However, the sheer number of possible protein fragments makes it challenging to pinpoint previously unknown hormones.

To make the process more efficient, the Stanford researchers focused on an enzyme called prohormone convertase 1/3. This enzyme cuts larger prohormones at specific amino acid sequences, producing smaller peptides. It has also previously been associated with human obesity.

Amino acids are the basic building blocks of proteins, and their specific arrangement determines where enzymes can cut these larger molecules.

One important hormone produced through this process is GLP-1, which is mimicked by semaglutide. The researchers hypothesised that other peptides generated through the same biological process could also play a role in regulating appetite and energy expenditure.

Using artificial intelligence, the team was able to investigate thousands of potential biological compounds and identify BRP as a promising candidate.

While the findings offer a potential new direction for obesity treatment, the research is still at an early stage. The molecule’s effects have so far been investigated in animal experiments, and further research will be necessary to establish its safety, effectiveness and potential side effects in humans.