Stanford AI Finds Natural Molecule That Mimics Ozempic in Mice

Researchers at Stanford Medicine have identified a naturally occurring peptide, called BRP, that reduced food intake by up to 50 percent in animal experiments, according to a Stanford Medicine release covered by ScienceDaily. The molecule was found using an AI tool the team built called Peptide Predictor, which searched thousands of possible fragments generated by the enzyme prohormone convertase 1/3, a process already linked to human obesity and to the production of GLP-1 itself.

Unlike semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic, BRP appears to act mainly in the hypothalamus rather than across the gut, pancreas, and other tissues. Senior author Katrin Svensson, PhD, noted that this narrower target could explain why the molecule did not produce the nausea, constipation, or notable muscle loss sometimes seen with GLP-1 based medications in the animal work described.

This is early stage animal research, not a human trial, and BRP is not an approved treatment. Svensson has cofounded a company to move the molecule toward human testing, but whether it will prove safe or effective in people remains unknown. The findings were published in Nature.

This article is for education only. It is not medical advice. Compounds discussed here are sold for research purposes. Talk to a licensed clinician before making health decisions.