Agonist News and Research

RSS

Bariatric surgery linked to lower risk of psychiatric disorders than GLP-1 drugs

People who have metabolic and bariatric surgery are significantly less likely to develop psychiatric disorders compared to those who take weekly injections of GLP-1 anti-obesity medications, according to a new study presented today at the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) 2025 Annual Scientific Meeting.

17 Jun 2025

A revolutionary drug for extreme hunger offers clues to obesity’s complexity

Ali Foley Shenk still remembers the panic when her 10-year-old son, Dean, finished a 20-ounce box of raisins in the seconds the cupboard was left unlocked. They rushed to the emergency room, fearing a dangerous bowel impaction.

16 Jun 2025

Tufts researchers design new generation of weight loss medications

Weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy are used by over 15 million adults in the U.S., or 4.5% of the population. Despite their effectiveness, they have drawbacks.

11 Jun 2025

Psilocybin rewires the brain for weeks, study finds

Psilocybin induces consistent and sustained changes in brain network connectivity, particularly between the hippocampus and default mode network, as shown using high-resolution fMRI in healthy adults. These neural effects, distinct from those produced by methylphenidate, may underlie the drug’s psychological benefits and were reproducible within individuals over time.

10 Jun 2025

Diabetes drug shows potential in slowing prostate cancer progression

A drug used to treat type 2 diabetes may also be effective in slowing the progression of prostate cancer.

20 May 2025

GLP-1 weight loss drugs leave users low on key nutrients, study finds

This study assessed nutrient intake in adults using GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) and found widespread deficiencies in essential vitamins and minerals. Despite appetite suppression and weight loss benefits, most participants exceeded fat intake recommendations and failed to meet protein and micronutrient needs.

14 May 2025

Online obesity clinic achieves clinical trial-level weight loss with lower semaglutide doses

New research being presented at this year's European Congress on Obesity (ECO 2025) has found that patients of an online obesity clinic achieved similar weight loss to that reported in clinical trials – but with less than half the medication.

12 May 2025

GLP-1 drugs linked to significant BMI reduction in children with severe obesity

Children who are living with severe obesity are more likely to experience a clinically relevant change in BMI when GLP-1 agonist drugs form part of their treatment, new research being presented at year's European Congress on Obesity (ECO 2025) suggests.

12 May 2025

Tirzepatide outperforms semaglutide for weight loss in people without diabetes

A head-to-head trial found that tirzepatide led to significantly greater weight loss and waist reduction than semaglutide in adults with obesity but without diabetes. Over 72 weeks, tirzepatide helped more participants reach key weight loss milestones, with manageable side effects and strong metabolic benefits.

12 May 2025

Diabetes drug shows promise for treating prostate cancer

An international team of scientists led by the Medical University of Vienna has identified similarities in the mechanisms of diabetes and cancer: as the researchers show, the protein PPARγ, which is central to the regulation of metabolic processes, can also influence the growth of prostate cancer cells.

6 May 2025

Monell study offers renewed hope for people living with Bardet-Biedl Syndrome

A Monell Chemical Senses Center study published this week in the Journal of Clinical Investigation offers renewed hope for individuals living with Bardet-Biedl Syndrome (BBS), a rare genetic disorder characterized by early-onset obesity, compulsive eating, and cognitive impairments.

18 Apr 2025

Mid afternoon inhaler use may improve nighttime asthma control

A single daily preventer dose of inhaled corticosteroid (beclomethasone), taken mid afternoon, may be the best timing for effective asthma control as it suppresses the usual nocturnal worsening of symptoms more effectively than dosing regimens at other times of the day, suggest the results of a small clinical trial published in the journal Thorax.

15 Apr 2025

Study shows minimal lean muscle mass loss with GLP-1 and GLP-1/GIP therapy for weight loss

New research to be presented at this year's European Congress on Obesity (ECO 2025, Malaga, Spain, 11-14 May) shows that patients using GLP-1 or combined GLP-1 / GIP receptor agonist therapy for weight loss experienced minimal lean muscle mass loss as they lost weight across 6 months of treatment.

9 Apr 2025

Semaglutide linked to higher risk of vision problems, FDA data analysis shows

Researchers from the University of Bern analyzed over 300,000 FDA reports and found semaglutide use was linked to a higher reporting rate of vision impairment. The findings call for further study into the ocular risks of this widely prescribed diabetes and weight loss drug.

8 Apr 2025

New trial shows oral semaglutide reduces cardiovascular events in diabetes patients

Both the injectable and oral forms of semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, have gained recent attention for their effectiveness against weight gain, high blood sugar, and even alcohol cravings.

31 Mar 2025

Semaglutide improves maximal walking distance in people with symptomatic PAD and Type 2 diabetes

Semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonist, significantly improved maximal walking distance in people with symptomatic peripheral artery disease (PAD) and Type 2 diabetes in the first-of-its kind trial to evaluate the use of a GLP-1 agonist to manage PAD.

29 Mar 2025

Dopamine neurons play a central role in sustaining hedonic eating

A previously overlooked dopamine-producing brain circuit drives hedonic eating, or eating for pleasure, according to a new study in mice.

27 Mar 2025

Novel cyclic peptide antagonist can be a promising therapeutic approach for MASH

The farnesoid X receptor (FXR) is a bile acid nuclear receptor that plays a crucial role in regulating bile acid and sterol metabolism.

14 Mar 2025

Tirzepatide helps people without diabetes lose 13% body weight in real-world study

A real-world study of over 4,000 US patients without type 2 diabetes found that those who persisted with Tirzepatide for at least six months lost an average of 12.9% of their body weight. The study highlights Tirzepatide’s potential as an effective off-label obesity treatment before its formal FDA approval for weight loss.

11 Mar 2025

Study reveals the role of transcription factors as therapeutic gateways in MAFLD

Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) has become a growing global health concern, affecting millions worldwide. This complex liver disorder ranges from simple steatosis to more severe forms, including metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), which may progress to fibrosis, cirrhosis, and even liver cancer.

11 Mar 2025

Agonist News and Research

Bariatric surgery linked to lower risk of psychiatric disorders than GLP-1 drugs

A revolutionary drug for extreme hunger offers clues to obesity’s complexity

Tufts researchers design new generation of weight loss medications

Psilocybin rewires the brain for weeks, study finds

Diabetes drug shows potential in slowing prostate cancer progression

GLP-1 weight loss drugs leave users low on key nutrients, study finds

Online obesity clinic achieves clinical trial-level weight loss with lower semaglutide doses

GLP-1 drugs linked to significant BMI reduction in children with severe obesity

Tirzepatide outperforms semaglutide for weight loss in people without diabetes

Diabetes drug shows promise for treating prostate cancer

Monell study offers renewed hope for people living with Bardet-Biedl Syndrome

Mid afternoon inhaler use may improve nighttime asthma control

Study shows minimal lean muscle mass loss with GLP-1 and GLP-1/GIP therapy for weight loss

Semaglutide linked to higher risk of vision problems, FDA data analysis shows

New trial shows oral semaglutide reduces cardiovascular events in diabetes patients

Semaglutide improves maximal walking distance in people with symptomatic PAD and Type 2 diabetes

Dopamine neurons play a central role in sustaining hedonic eating

Novel cyclic peptide antagonist can be a promising therapeutic approach for MASH

Tirzepatide helps people without diabetes lose 13% body weight in real-world study

Study reveals the role of transcription factors as therapeutic gateways in MAFLD

Bringing real-time analytics to downstream bioprocess monitoring

Designing fluidic architecture for scalable diagnostic platforms

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

Latest News