New two-in-one anti-obesity jab that targets different parts of the brain could work twice as well as Ozempic - and could keep weight off for longer By Pat Hagan Published: 01:21 BST, 18 June 2024 | Updated: 01:46 BST, 18 June 2024 e-mail View comments A jab made with two anti-obesity medicines rather than one could be better than Ozempic for weight loss . The experimental treatment contains two drugs that target different areas of the brain to curb appetite. In tests on mice, the combined therapy doubled the amount of weight some lost compared with using Ozempic on its own.
The jab also appears to prompt lasting changes in the brain so that appetite remains reduced once treatment has stopped. This is one of the drawbacks with the blockbuster slimming drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy (which contain different doses of the active drug semaglutide). These work by mimicking the effects of a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), which is released by the gut after we eat to send a message to the brain that we are full.
The drugs activate GLP-1 receptors in the brain, so it registers fullness in the stomach after minimal amounts of food. As a result, most people feel full after a few mouthfuls. But the drugs only work if you keep taking them, which means some patients could end up on them for life.
The experimental treatment contains two drugs that target different areas of the brain to curb appetite In a new approach, scientists at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark .