PNAS mouse study pairs ZFP423-silencing RNA with semaglutide to spare lean mass

The wire

1. 01Northwestern researchers led by Joseph Bass reported in PNAS that a short RNA inhibiting ZFP423 promoted beiging of white fat and, combined with semaglutide in mice, cut body fat to about 4 g versus 8 g with semaglutide alone.
2. 02Lean-mass loss on incretin therapy is a live clinical concern, and the work points to a thermogenic add-on strategy rather than an appetite-based one.
3. 03Results are in mice only; the team says it is now testing a similar RNA therapy in human cells, and no human dosing or safety data exist.

From the source

RNA therapy boosts semaglutide fat loss while preserving lean muscle

An animal study has confirmed the effects of a ribonucleic acid (RNA) therapy that enhances the weight-loss impact of the popular glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) class anti-obesity drugs, while reducing loss of lean mass such as muscle. When the RNA therapy was administered to mice together with the GLP-1 drug semaglutide, the animals showed greater reductions in body fat and nearly half the reduc