New Treatment Aids Weight Loss, Improves Diabetes in Monkeys

A new, lab-created antibody that mimics the action of a naturally occurring molecule causes weight loss in monkeys, researchers report.

The engineered antibody also appears to improve insulin sensitivity, which could fight type 2 diabetes, and it decreases levels of triglycerides, a blood fat that contributes to hardening of the arteries.

"The results we describe in animal models are profound and very encouraging," said study senior author Yang Li, scientific director at Amgen, Inc., in Thousand Oaks, Calif. "While we’re excited about these findings, we’re still evaluating the results."

Li said it’s important to remember these findings were in monkeys and only in a preclinical setting. It’s not yet clear how this treatment might act in humans.

The study was funded by Amgen, the developer of the new treatment. The findings are published in the Nov. 28 issue of Science Translational Medicine.

(Image: Courtesy of iStockphoto/GlobalP)