Scientists at Sirius University of Science and Technology have developed and patented a new way to combat obesity using gene therapy methods, Kommersant writes with reference to the press service of Sirius federal territory. This approach offers an alternative for individuals unable to engage in intense physical activity or dieting due to health issues.
The technique involves delivering a specific gene to fat cells using safe viruses, which facilitates the transformation of harmful white fat into beige adipose tissue. This gene activates the production of a protein that promotes fat burning, enabling the body to expend more energy even in the absence of physical exercise.
Initial tests of this method have been successfully conducted on mice, and researchers are now preparing for more comprehensive trials on other animal models. Scientists anticipate that this development could not only help address obesity but also pave the way for new treatments for other metabolic disorders.
The global market for anti-obesity medications presents significant opportunities for pharmaceutical companies. According to analysts at IQVIA, sales in this sector have increased tenfold from 2020 to 2024, reaching $41 billion in the global market for obesity and type 2 diabetes drugs. Notably, medications such as Ozempic, Rybelsus, and Wegovy currently account for over half of those sales. Major pharmaceutical firms, including Pfizer, Amgen, Novo Nordisk, and Eli Lilly, are expected to enter the market by 2026, with Swiss company Roche also seeking to participate.
The issue of obesity has reached global proportions, with more than one billion people affected, according to The Lancet. The publication predicts that by 2050, the number of overweight individuals could surge to 3.8 billion. In Russia, Health Minister Mikhail Murashko has reported that 24.6% of the adult population suffers from obesity, a figure that Mikhail Bogomolov, president of the Russian Diabetes Association, estimates may be as high as 40%.
