Successful completion of initial clinical trials for innovative obesity treatment that increases heat in fat cells
A new weight loss drug named SANA, developed by Uruguayan startup Eolo Pharma, has successfully completed its Phase I human trials. The drug, which operates by burning calories through a unique mechanism, is showing promising results as a treatment for obesity and type 2 diabetes.
SANA works by stimulating thermogenesis—the body's process of generating heat to burn calories—but does so uniquely by activating thermogenesis through a molecule called creatine, rather than the usual protein UCP1 found in mitochondria. This alternative pathway enables SANA to target fat tissue specifically without causing overheating or cardiovascular stress, unlike older thermogenic drugs.
During lab tests, SANA preserved lean muscle mass while reducing fat mass. Importantly, the participants did not experience any muscle wastage, and their appetite was not impacted. The potential benefits of SANA include weight loss and fat reduction, improved insulin resistance, and no suppression of appetite.
In the Phase I trials, an average of around 3 percent body weight was lost in only two weeks among the participants taking the maximum dose when compared to a placebo. The research, published in Nature Metabolism, also showed a reduction in blood glucose levels.
The development of SANA was a multidisciplinary effort involving academic teams from the Institut Pasteur de Montevideo and the University of the Republic (Udelar). The success of SANA is attributed to the identification of a molecule called nitroalkene, a derivative of salicylate. Nitroalkene is a naturally occurring compound found in plants and is responsible for initiating the body's fat-burning activities.
The next round of clinical trials for SANA will include participants with type 2 diabetes. If future research confirms SANA's efficacy, it may become available more widely. The research on SANA is the outcome of over a decade's worth of work, and it has led to patents, the creation of a startup, and attracting both national and international private capital.
Bridging the public and private sectors allowed for the creation of local jobs, funding for more research, and ultimately, better science. The support enabled science to move forward, resulting in the first drug completely developed in Uruguay. As SANA is a newly emerging therapy, continued observation of trial results is essential to fully understand its benefits and risks.
- The unique mechanism of SANA, a new weight loss drug, stimulates thermogenesis through a molecule called creatine, offering a potential treatment for obesity and type 2 diabetes.
- The ongoing research on SANA, a drug developed by Uruguayan startup Eolo Pharma, includes studies on its efficacy for managing chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes.
- SANA has demonstrated promising results in reducing body weight by initiating fat-burning activities, as showcased in a study published in Nature Metabolism.
- Nutrition and weight management could significantly benefit from SANA, a novel weight loss drug that induces fat reduction and improves insulin resistance, without suppressing appetite.
- The development of SANA, the first drug completely developed in Uruguay, is a testament to successful collaboration between academic research, the private sector, and local job creation efforts in health and wellness.
